Contact: MBLC State Aid Specialist Jen Inglis, MBLC Head of State Programs Cate Merlin
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) works with State Data Coordinators in all 50 states and U.S. territories to collect information about libraries.
In Massachusetts, we collect the data we report to IMLS through the Annual Report of Information Statistics (ARIS).
IMLS also works with an independent data research company to ensure overall data accuracy, reliability, and consistency. The changes we are implementing now are a result of research that began four years ago.
They are completely unrelated to the Trump Administration.
Here’s how the IMLS data collection system works. Research about the data is conducted by an independent research company. Results and recommendations are brought forward to State Data Coordinators and Chief Officers of State Library Associations who then vote on any potential changes. Questions being added and/or removed every year is standard practice.
The changes below were voted on in 2023.
The MBLC made the decision to make the changes in phases to allow for a smooth transition, training, and full implementation.
Below is detail of what was added and what was removed for IMLS reporting for FY2026.
| Holdings Questions Removed | ||
| E-Holdings: | ||
| H5 | E-books: Adult | |
| H6 | Downloadable audio: Adult | |
| H7 | Downloadable video: Adult | |
| H16 | E-books: Young Adult | |
| H17 | Downloadable audio: Young Adult | |
| H18 | Downloadable video: Young Adult | |
| H27 | E-books: Children’s | |
| H28 | Downloadable audio: Children’s | |
| H29 | Downloadable video: Children’s | |
| Subscriptions: | ||
| H48 | Electronic serial subscriptions | |
| H49 | Local research database & online learning platform subscription | |
| Number of databases: | ||
| H100 | Network databases & online learning platforms | |
| H101 | Local databases & online learning platforms | |
| H102 | State databases & online learning platforms | |
| Circulation Questions Removed | ||
| Usage of databases & online learning platforms: | ||
| C35 | Usage of local databases & online learning platforms | |
| C35 | Usage of network databases & online learning platforms | |
| C36 | Usage of state-wide databases & online learning platforms | |
| Circulation Questions Added | ||
| new C34 | E-serials circulation: Adult | |
| new C35 | E-serials circulation: Young Adult | |
| E-serials circulation: Children’s | ||
It is important to note that there are local databases that libraries purchase for use by their own local patrons and there are statewide databases that the MBLC and Massachusetts Library System (MLS) purchase for use by any person who lives, works or studies in Massachusetts. LOCAL database stats will no longer be collected. The MBLC will still collect data on statewide database usage that references the current and historical data collection hosted on the MLS website (https://guides.masslibsystem.org/databases/statistics)
IMLS as an agency has been affected by the Trump Administration. On March 14, 2025 President Trump signed Executive Order 14238 which eliminates the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” IMLS is the single largest source of critical federal funding for libraries. The MBLC receives $3.6 million from IMLS.
Due to the federal uncertainty caused by this executive order, the MBLC made several rounds of cuts unrelated to data collection:
April cuts
May cuts
Regardless of the fate of the IMLS, the MBLC will continue its annual data collection via the Annual Report of Information Statistics (ARIS) and Financial Report surveys. Completion of these surveys remains a requirement for the State Aid to Public Libraries program, and statewide data collection will become even more critical to Massachusetts libraries if national data collection ceases.
A note: For IMLS data, these are the questions added/removed last year—based on the 2023 vote.
| Changes to the FY25 ARIS Questions | ||
| Auto Renewals Added | ||
| AU1 | Did your library offer automatic renewal for any physical materials during the reporting period? | |
| Electronic Holdings/Materials Questions Added | ||
| Electronic Books: | ||
| EH1 | Did the library provide access to e-books purchased solely by the library? | |
| EH2 | Did the library provide access to ebooks purchased via a consortium/network? | |
| EH3 | Did the library provide access to e-books provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity? | |
| Electronic Serials | ||
| EH4 | Did the library provide access to e-serials purchased solely by the library? | |
| EH5 | Did the library provide access to e-serials purchased via a consortium/network? | |
| EH6 | Did the library provide access to e-serials provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no minimum cost to the administrative entity? | |
| Electronic Audio: | ||
| EH7 | Did the library provide access to e-audio purchased solely by the library? | |
| EH8 | Did the library provide access to e-audio purchased via a consortium/network? | |
| EH9 | Did the library provide access to e-audio provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity? | |
| Electronic Video: | ||
| EH10 | Did the library provide access to e-video purchased solely by the library? | |
| EH11 | Did the library provide access to e-video purchased via a consortium/network? | |
| EH12 | Did the library provide access to e-video provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity? | |
| Research Databases: | ||
| EH13 | Did the library provide access to research databases purchased solely by the library? | |
| EH14 | Did the library provide access to research databases purchased via a consortium/network? | |
| EH15 | Did the library provide access to research databases provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity? | |
| Online Learning Platforms: | ||
| EH16 | Did the library provide access to online learning platforms purchased solely by the library? | |
| EH17 | Did the library provide access to online learning platforms purchased via a consortium/network? | |
| EH18 | Did the library provide access to online learning platforms provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity? | |
In the ARIS, the MBLC does include questions that are not for IMLS. They are based on local interest and need.