🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on September 4th (Hybrid)
Contact: Rachel Masse
The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at the Holyoke Public Library.
📰 MBLC Funds Statewide eContent
Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely
At its August board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved $500,000 in grants to Automated Networks to purchase eContent for the Library eBook and Audiobook (LEA) program. LEA gives Massachusetts residents access to eBooks, audiobooks, and more from 400 participating libraries from across the Commonwealth. This statewide system allows eContent to be shared in a similar way to physical materials, opening up access that was previously unavailable for eBooks and audiobooks. The LEA collection has grown 37% over the past three years and totals almost 1.5 million eBooks and Audiobooks. To read more about funding statewide eContent, visit the MBLC website.
📝NEW BLOG POST Fortifying Your Library: The Future is Unknowable, but the Past Can Help Us Prepare
Contact: Al Hayden
Welcome back to another edition of Fortifying Your Library! Let’s spend some time addressing a question that has been at the top of the mind for several months now: what happens to public libraries during an economic recession? To read the full post, visit the MBLC Blog.
🗓️Financial Report Closes on Friday, October 3rd
Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis
State Aid season continues! The FY26 Financial Report survey will close on Friday, October 3rd. Waiver applications are due on Friday, November 7th. Financial Report & Waiver workshops will be held this month. Sign up for the State Aid Listserv for updates and information. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the State Aid team if you have any questions or concerns. More information and dates can be found at at the MBLC website.
💬 State Aid + Financial Report Weekly Drop In Hours (Online)
Contact: Cate Merlin
Wednesdays in September at 9am – Zoom Link
In September, Wednesday State Aid Office Hours are now also Financial Report Drop In Hours- and they’re weekly at 9am! Make sure your budget, materials spending, and hours open fully meet State Aid requirements, and bring your Financial Report and/or Waiver questions, big and small. Registration is not required, and session and chats will not be recorded or saved. Use the same Zoom link each week.
🗓️September State Aid Financial Report Workshops (Online)
Contact: Jen Inglis, Cate Merlin
Tuesday, September 2nd at 10am – More Information & Registration
Wednesday, September 10th at 1pm – More Information & Registration
Friday, September 12th at 10am – More Information & Registration
Monday, September 15th at 1pm – More Information & Registration
Review the FY26 Financial Report and questions. Workshop information (meeting ID, etc.) will be emailed to registered participants as the date of the session approaches. Registration is required.
🗓️September Waiver Workshops (Online)
Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis
Wednesday, September 3rd at 10am – More Information & Registration
Tuesday, September 9th at 1pm – More Information & Registration
Thursday, September 18th at 10am – More Information & Registration
Review the FY26 Waiver application and requirements, required for libraries that have not met the FY26 Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR). Workshop information (meeting ID, etc.) will be emailed to registered participants as the date of the session approaches. Registration is required.
💻 Web Accessibility Office Hours
Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely, Kate Butler
Need help making your web content accessible? MBLC staff are here to help! Join our office hours every first Friday at 11AM or third Wednesday at 3PM.
Next First Friday Session: Friday, September 5 at 11AM – No registration needed
Next Third Wednesday Session: Wednesday, September 17 at 3PM – No registration needed
View all upcoming Web Accessibility programming under the Internet, Technology, and Access category on our calendar.
📄Accessible Word Documents
Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely, Kate Butler
Thursday, September 11 at 2PM – Registration required
Learn advanced Word skills to make your documents accessible! MBLC staff will be discussing and working through hands-on exercises for accessible headers, document templates, alt text, and more.
💬 State Aid + Financial Report Weekly Drop-in Hours (Online)
Contact: Cate Merlin
Wednesdays in September at 9AM – Zoom Link
For August and September, Wednesday State Aid Office Hours are now also Financial Report Drop-in Hours- and they’re weekly at 9am! Make sure your budget, materials spending, and hours open fully meet State Aid requirements, and bring your Financial Report and/or Waiver questions, big and small. Registration is not required, and session and chats will not be recorded or saved. Use the same Zoom link each week.
🤝Library Advisory Office Hours (Online)
Contact: Al Hayden
Monday, September 8 at 9AM – More Information & Zoom Link
Monday, September 22 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link
Open to all Directors, Trustees, Library Friends, and Foundation Members. They are designed to be an open-ended, safe space for questions and interaction among participants. Sessions will NOT be recorded, and chats will NOT be saved. Registration is not required; stop by anytime during the hour!
📅 ESOL Roundtable Discussion (Online)
Contact: Ally Dowds
Wednesday, September 24 at 10AM – Zoom Link & More Information
Connect with literacy coordinators and library staff to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build a supportive community. Whether you’re an experienced educator, a new ESOL coordinator, or a librarian developing services and collections, this roundtable provides a forum to come together for meaningful discussion and resource sharing. Bring your questions, challenges, and successes!
🤝So You Want to Be a Library Trustee? (Online)
Contact: Al Hayden
Wednesday, September 24 at 7PM – More Information & Registration
Do you want to do more to advocate on behalf of your local public library? Are you considering running to be a Library Trustee? Join Rob Favini, Head of Library Advisory & Development/Government Liaison and Al Hayden, Library Advisory Specialist from the MBLC as they provide information about what your library does for your community, the role of a Library Trustee, what responsibilities you’ll encounter should you become a successful candidate, and what supports and resources the MBLC offers to the library community and its advocates. This program is a basic primer designed for people who are considering becoming a Library Trustee in their community, though new Trustees may find valuable information and are welcome to attend as well. This session will be recorded and slides will be shared with all who register, regardless of whether or not they are able to attend live. To encourage frank questions and open discourse, the Q&A session will NOT be recorded.
🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on October 9 (Hybrid)
Contact: Rachel Masse
The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Nevins Library, Methuen.