- Commissioner Award Winners Announced
Join us in celebrating the Commissioner Award winners on November 6
- Careers in Libraries Video Series
Stories and pathways to working in a library from MA library staff
- Federal Funding Impact on Libraries in MA
Library funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services is at risk
- ARIS & Financial Report
State Aid ARIS & Financial Report FY2026 season schedule and information
NEWS RELEASES
Latest activities and updates from the MBLCOctober 15, 2025 - Commissioner Award Winners Announced
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) turns 135 years old this year and is celebrating with the Commissioner Awards honoring individuals who have carried forward the legacy of the founding Commissioners and who have made outstanding contributions to Massachusetts libraries and the ... READ MORE
October 01, 2025 - Andrea Bono-Bunker Winner of Prestigious Governor’s Award
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce that Andrea Bono-Bunker, Library Building Consultant in the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP), is the winner of the prestigious Manuel Carballo Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service. T ... READ MORE
October 01, 2025 - Reading the Revolution MA250 Booklists: Our Ongoing Journey to a Free and Equal Nation
The Massachusetts Center for the Book (MCB) and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) are pleased to announce the launch of the Reading the Revolution booklists. This multipart reading list honors the complex history of the American Revolution and our nation's unfolding evolution ... READ MORE
Library Directory
From the MBLC Blog
Get to Know the Founding Commissioners: C.B. Tillinghast
C.B. (Caleb Benjamin) Tillinghast (1843-1909) was a librarian, journalist, educator and public servant whose long career left a lasting mark on the Massachusetts State House Library. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he began his professional life as a teacher and journalist, moving to Boston before turning to public service. In 1888, he was promoted to … Continue reading Get to Know the Founding Commissioners: C.B. Tillinghast
Service Update – October 29, 2025
🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on November 6 (Hybrid) Contact: Rachel Masse The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Massachusetts State House. 🖥️ Preservation Pop-Up: Environmental Monitoring Program Info Session (Online) Contact: Jessica Branco Colati Thursday, October 30 at 11AM – More … Continue reading Service Update – October 29, 2025
How Does a Recession Affect Programming Attendance?
Welcome back, and thank you for sticking with me! To explore how libraries behave during a recession, I’ve utilized metrics that align with the time frames in Mabe’s study, using data from the Annual Report Information Statistics (ARIS) submitted by libraries annually. Although ARIS has evolved over the years, the data available from 2006 onward … Continue reading How Does a Recession Affect Programming Attendance?