The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce the FY 2020 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant round. The MBLC uses federal LSTA funding to provide direct grants to libraries that allow them to offer innovative services to local residents. “Massach...READ MORE
At its November Board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved the disbursement of the first round of FY 2019 State Aid awards totaling $1,559,545.88 to 112 municipalities that have met State Aid to Public Libraries Program requirements. The awards are roughly half ...READ MORE
The rainy weather did not dampen the spirits of those gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the East Forest Park Branch of the Springfield City Library on October 15, 2018. The project is funded in part by a $4.9m grant from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Project (MPLCP) throug...READ MORE
On a warm summer afternoon in July, dozens of Plymouth Public Library patrons gathered to celebrate the institution of Afternoon Tea. The theme tied in with the popular epistolary novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society that chronicles the occupation of the British channel island of Guernsey by Nazis during World War II. It … Continue reading Afternoon Tea
After over a year of hard work, we have completed our “Evolving Ecosystem” report with Watertown based design and planning firm Sasaki and help from Massachusetts library patrons and staff who filled out our statewide survey last summer. The study was initiated and funded by the construction program, so that was the focus. We went … Continue reading Public Libraries in Massachusetts: An Evolving Ecosystem
The MBLC offers an innovative category among our LSTA grant options for libraries that have come up with a unique solution to address a community need. One of this year’s innovative grants is Chicopee Public Library’s “Combining Good Ingredients”. Many Chicopee residents live with food insecurity, in poverty, and/or in poor health. The library was … Continue reading Chicopee Library is “Combining Good Ingredients”