LIBRARY FUNDING
State funding to the MBLC – FY2026 Legislative Agenda
In uncertain times the Commonwealth’s public libraries are more important than ever. They bring people together and provide free resources and services to all. The majority of state funding to the MBLC goes to support local libraries and library services. For FY2026, the MBLC is prioritizing funding to State Aid to Public Libraries Program-local aid for libraries (state budget line 7000-9501), the Massachusetts Center for the Book (state budget line 7000-9508) and the Board of Library Commissioners agency line (state budget line 7000-9101).
Contact: Maureen Amyot
State Aid to Public Libraries (local aid for libraries)
Libraries certified in the State Aid to Public Libraries Program will receive the largest state aid awards since the program began over 100 years ago. Certified libraries will share over $20 million in funding. Attleboro, for example, went from $59,422.67 in state aid funding in 2015 to $109,043 in the FY2023 cycle. Learn more about how the State Aid to Public Libraries Program saves money and gives residents more access to resources.
Contacts: Cate Merlin; Jen Inglis
Federal funding to libraries (MBLC's direct grants to libraries program)
The MBLC’s subgrant program is helping local libraries meet local needs. Using federal LSTA funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the MBLC offers grant opportunities for public, school, academic, and special libraries that go beyond what local funding can do. Find out what your district or municipality received.
Contacts: Rob Favini; Lyndsay Forbes
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM & BOOK CHALLENGES
According to the American Library Association there were 37 book challenges in Massachusetts in 2023 affecting 63 titles. Prior to 2019, there were less than 4 challenges a year with some years recording zero challenges. The Massachusetts Library Association is working with the Massachusetts Library Legislative Caucus to identify sponsors for the bills below to have them reintroduced in the upcoming legislative session.
Book Challenges
Librarians are defending our right to read as they face ongoing book challenges in Massachusetts. In the last legislative session, S.2839 - An Act to ensure access to library resources and services failed to make it to the floor for a vote. This important bill sought to protect school and public librarians by requiring the adoption of collection development and book challenge policies.
EBook Pricing
Publishers often charge libraries triple what a consumer pays for the same eBook with more restrictive licenses. These policies have severely limited libraries’ ability to purchase electronic content to meet demand. For library users with dyslexia, disabilities, and mobility challenges, eBooks and audiobooks are a necessity. H.4802 - An Act addressing challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections sought to lean on the Commonwealth’s strong consumer protection law to require publishers to use fair practices when doing business with libraries. This bill also did not make it to a floor vote.
Contact: Rob Favini
CONSTRUCTION
The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP)
The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) provides funding for major capital projects for public libraries throughout the Commonwealth. The MPLCP has helped over 250 communities plan, build, renovate, and expand their public libraries and serves as a model for other states. MPLCP construction projects are currently underway in Amherst, Deerfield, Fitchburg, Gloucester, Melrose, Sharon, Shutesbury, Swansea, and Westford. MPLCP planning and design projects for the small population grant type are underway in Blandford and Otis, and the announcement of planning and design phase awardees for the standard grant type will be forthcoming.
- The MPLCP's recent $150 million bond authorization will fund grant award recipients for the 2023-2024 grant round.
- The MBLC is requesting that the annual spending cap, currently at $26 million, increase $1 million annually to keep pace with escalation, allowing the program to maintain the level of support to libraries offered throughout its existence.
Contacts: Andrea Bono-Bunker; Heather Backman
DIGITAL ACCESS
Libraries, as providers of connectivity, literacy training, and a source of online resources, such as eContent and research databases, play an important role in achieving digital equity.
E-Rate
E-rate helps public libraries and schools connect users to the internet, fast. E-rate is a federally-funded program offering 20-90% discounts on high-speed broadband, and the equipment and support services that make that connectivity work.
Contact: Kate Butler
Telecommunications for Resource Sharing Program
The Telecommunications for Resource Sharing program offsets the annual operating costs for library connections to the internet and to the centralized services provided by their automated library network, including core library business transactions, such as searching, circulation, cataloging, and patron registration. Telecommunications for Resource Sharing also provides funding for those public libraries which are not members of any network to reach the internet.
Contact: Kate Butler
EDUCATION
School eContent
The Massachusetts Library System’s Commonwealth eBook Collection (funded in part by the MBLC) offers an ever-growing robust collection of rich and diverse titles to help support the 550+ K-12 school libraries that participate in this program. The collection contains over 250,000 eBook and audiobook tiles exclusively for schools. In 2023, program circulation continued to grow, exceeding 1.7 million checkouts with 591 school libraries participating. The MBLC continues to use federal funds to support school eContent.
Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely
Databases
The statewide database program provides critical access to research databases that no community or school system could afford to purchase on its own. 1,500 school, public, academic and special libraries from across the state benefit from these resources. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Massachusetts Library System recently increased funding to these resources that are not available to consumers on the internet without a paid subscription.
Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely
Summer Reading
In Summer 2024, more than 168,000 children, teens, and adults registered in statewide summer reading programs proven to help kids and teens maintain academic skills and residents of all ages shared their summer success stories. Summer programs help close the literacy gap, a critical predictor of academic success.
Contacts: Celeste Bruno; June Thammasnong
PRESERVATION
Disaster Preparedness & Mitigating Catastrophic Loss
MBLC is a founding partner of COSTEP MA (Coordinated Statewide Emergency Preparedness for Cultural Heritage in Massachusetts). Libraries can minimize the impacts from disasters large and small through risk assessment and mitigation planning. The MBLC provides training resources, special access to relevant software, events and workshops connecting libraries and the emergency management community with high quality, current information to mitigate or recover from disasters.
Contact: Jess Colati
TECHNOLOGY AND SHARING RESOURCES
Network Membership
Membership in one of the nine automated library networks saves libraries money by providing the library catalog, circulation services, patron registration, public internet access and more. Libraries pay a membership fee to join a network and MBLC offers support that keeps membership fees affordable and helps new public libraries join.
Contacts: Kate Butler; Jaccavrie McNeely
Sharing Resources
Network membership also gives residents access to 59 million items from libraries across the state and access to millions of eBooks and audiobooks through the statewide Library eBooks and Audiobooks (LEA) program. This saves money because libraries don't have to purchase each item residents need. The MBLC also provides funding to purchase statewide eContent.
Contacts: Kate Butler; Jaccavrie McNeely
TRUSTEES
The MBLC provides advice to Massachusetts library trustees and assists them with interpreting laws and regulations, understanding their responsibilities, and supporting library administration.
Contact: Al Hayden
- MBLC Trustees Resource Guide
Helpful links, guidance, and information about upcoming workshops. - Trusty Trustee Pocket Guide (PDF)
This short guide is adapted from the above handbook. Please contact MBLC to request printed copies of the Pocket Guide.