🕙 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 Information & Registration
Massachusetts Libraries steward unique and locally significant collections representing the history of their local communities and residents. Learn more about the Environmental Monitoring Program at this pop-up info session and check out the related LibGuide on Preservation in Massachusetts Libraries.
🤝Annual MLTA Trustee Conference
Contact: Al Hayden
Saturday, November 1, 10AM to 1PM – Registration & More Information
The Massachusetts Library Trustee Association (MLTA) will hold their annual conference this year on Saturday, November 1 at the Shrewsbury Public Library, 609 Main St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Please register in advance as space is limited and lunch will be provided. The MLTA conference is a great opportunity for trustees across the state to interact with each other, learn new approaches to advocate for their library, have conversations about challenges you’re facing, and trade stories about successes.
✅ FY26 State Aid Certifications Begin!
Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis
Thank you to all libraries for completing their FY26 ARIS and Financial Report surveys! The first group of municipalities to be certified will be brought before the Board of Library
Commissioners at their November 6th meeting, and certifications will continue at the December and January meetings. We’ll email the State Aid listserv after each meeting with a list of municipalities certified and their initial State Aid grant awards- Directors, be sure you’re signed up here: https://mblc.state.ma.us/sympa/info/stateaid.
A reminder that full Waiver applications are due on Friday, November 7th, and those municipalities seeking a waiver of the FY26 MAR will be presented to the Board of Library Commissioners in January, and voted on by the Commissioners at the February board meeting. We’re taking a break from State Aid Office Hours so we can focus on certifying all municipalities as quickly as possible- but don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about State Aid or your upcoming FY27 budget cycle!
💻 Web Accessibility Office Hours (Online)
Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely, Kate Butler
Wednesday, November 7 at 11AM – More Information & Zoom Link
Wednesday, November 19 at 3PM – More Information & Zoom Link
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. View all upcoming Web Accessibility programming under the Internet, Technology, and Access category on our calendar.
🖥️ Fall 2025 Update: What Public Librarians Should Know about Immigration Law (Online)
Contact: Kate Butler
Thursday, November 13 at 11AM – More Information & Registration
In this wide-ranging presentation, two Boston immigration attorneys will explain the basic concepts of immigration law which every librarian (and every American!) should know.
- What are the different types of immigration status and how can you help someone research their own?
- What resources are available to low-income and unhoused patrons?
- What are the most common reasons that people are detained by ICE and where are the best sources for reliable information on what is going on with immigration enforcement in 2025?
- What rights do you have if ICE visits your library?
We will answer all these questions and more. Submit questions in advance to: legalquestions@sociallaw.com
🤝Library Advisory Office Hours (Online)
Contact: Al Hayden
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!
📊Municipal Finance 101: Budgeting & Best Practices for Library Directors and Trustees (Online)
Contact: Al Hayden
Wednesday, November 19 at 10AM – More Information & Registration
The MBLC has partnered with the Division of Local Services (DLS) to present Municipal Finance 101: Budgeting & Best Practices for Library Trustees and Library Directors / Library Administration. Jessica Ferry, Project Manager with DLS will review the building blocks of municipal finance and the importance of financial policies, forecasting, and capital planning. This program will help build your basic knowledge, allowing you to discuss your library’s budget with your municipal decision-makers using a common vocabulary.
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. Registration is required.
📅Access to Justice: Virtual Court Services at the Library (Online)
Contact: Ally Dowds
Thursday, November 20 at 11AM – Registration & More Information
The Massachusetts Trial Court is partnering with public libraries across the state to offer access to virtual court services through its Public Library Initiative — Access to Justice. Join MBLC and our colleagues at the Trial Court for a drop-in session to learn what it means to be a partnering library and hear firsthand from libraries that have implemented this service.
📝NEW BLOG POST: How Does a Recession Affect Programming Attendance?
Contact: Al Hayden
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 allows us to make consistent year-to-year comparisons. To learn more about how a recession might affect library programs, visit the MBLC blog.
🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on December 4 (Hybrid)
Contact: Rachel Masse
The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at the MBLC Offices.