http://mblc.state.ma.usNews ReleasesResidents of South Hadley recently gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new South Hadley Public Library located in the Falls area. The project creates a library facility able to meet the ongoing needs of residents, reconnects the community to the Connecticut River waterfront for all to enjoy and revitalizes this area of South Hadley. The new library will overlook the Holyoke Dam and America’s first navigable canal and is designed as a compatible addition to the adjacent historic South Hadley Canal area, a State and National Register Historic District. http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130509.phpThe Eastham Public Library and the East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library received Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) provisional grants at the April 4, 2013 meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Provisional grant awards are roughly 50% of eligible project costs with the remaining cost incurred by the municipality. Eastham’s award totals $4,331,923 and East Boston will receive $7,255,988. Both projects had been on the MPLCP Waiting List since July, 2011. http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130409_2.phpAfter an extensive search, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce Lauren Stara as the new Library Building Specialist. At its April Board Meeting, MBLC Chair Frank Murphy formally welcomed Ms Stara, "With many projects underway, more waiting to build and a new bond bill filed, you join us at a crucial time in the construction program and we’re glad to welcome you to the MBLC."http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130409.phpGregor Trinkaus-Randall, Preservation Specialist at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners was recently awarded the New England Archivists’ (NEA) 2013 Distinguished Service Award . "This award really belongs to all the members of NEA," he said in his acceptance remarks. "The collaboration and cooperation of all the members in pushing forward regional projects in which I have been involved helped ensure success that benefits us all." The Distinguished Service award was created in 1987 to recognize an individual or institution for the dedication and service to promoting NEA's missions and goals and for making significant contributions to individual institutions, the archives profession, and the archival community in New England. http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130328.phpOn March 15, 2013 The Patrick-Murray Administration filed a series of bond bills totaling $3.8 billion that support the FY2013-2017 Capital Investment Plan which seeks to reverse decades of underinvestment, create jobs and improve the Commonwealth’s economic future. Among the bond bills filed is a general government bond bill for $928 million to support a wide range of capital projects including $150 million to fund library construction projects as part of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner’s (MBLC) Public Library Construction Program. http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130318.phpAt its March 7, 2013 monthly board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approved $75,000 in federal Library Service and Technology Act LSTA funding to support statewide technology projects. http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130314_2.phpAlthough there are state standards in place for the storage of municipal records, compliance varies from community to community based on the size of the community, fiscal issues, and other factors. Some municipalities have appropriate vaults and storage conditions while others store records in conditions that may accelerate deterioration and hinder public access. http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130314.phpAt its March 7, 2013 monthly board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved changes to the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) regulations that affect Planning and Design grants, libraries currently on the Waiting List for funding, and establish a new pilot program to assist libraries that lose a major service area due to damage from unforeseen occurrences.http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130312_2.phpSchool libraries in Massachusetts fall under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The DESE has no standards in place for school library programs, nor is there any individual at the DESE charged with overseeing school library programs. Consequently, library programs vary greatly from one community to another, and often even within the same community. Almost half of Massachusetts' schools lack a full-time librarian, even though studies demonstrate that a full-time librarian clearly increases student achievement.http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130312.phpIn February, young readers across the Commonwealth received Bruins prizes based on their participation in the statewide summer reading programs at public libraries. "It's great to receive the prizes during what has been an outstanding season for the Bruins. The kids are really excited and it encourages them to want to read more," said one librarian.http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130222_2.phpGeorge T. Comeau, Esq. of Canton has been appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to serve on the nine-member Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130222.phpAt its February Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) appointed Dianne Carty as Acting Director when current Director Robert Maier retires on March 15, 2013.http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130212_2.phpAt its February Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners wrapped up the FY 2013 State Aid to Public Libraries application process by certifying the two remaining libraries that met all program requirements and approving waivers of the Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR) for ninety one applicants. In total, 344 libraries are currently certified in the State Aid to Public Libraries program. This is the largest number to be certified in the history of the program. Of those certified, 253 public libraries met all program requirements, up from last year when 220 met the standards.http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130212.phpAt its February Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded a commendation to Katherine Dibble in recognition of her work as a Commissioner, Chair of the MBLC Board and advocate to libraries across the Commonwealthhttp://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130211.phpAt its January Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners approved additional libraries meeting all FY2013 requirements for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program. Thirteen libraries were awarded $86, 996. 26. There is still one library remaining that will be presented to the Board at their February meeting. The MBLC awarded the first round of state aid funding in November when it approved the disbursement of FY2013 State Aid awards, totaling $360,326 to 71 municipalities. The second round, totaling $1.5 million to 167 libraries, was awarded in December, 2012. State Aid awards are roughly half of the total state aid funding that libraries will receive. Since 2008 the economic climate and concerns over library funding have prompted the Board to make partial awards. Additional payments to libraries are expected toward the end of the grant cycle in the spring. http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/news/releases/past-releases/2013/nr130108.php