MBLC Blog

Month: December 2025

  • Service Update – December 24, 2025

    Logo of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners with the tagline “For the common good since 1890” displayed on a teal ribbon beneath the agency name.
    [PDF] MBLC Service Update – December 2025Download

    MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on January 8 (Hybrid)
    Contact: Rachel Masse

    The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the MBLC Office, 90 Canal Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA.

    $5.4 Million Library Construction Grant Awarded to Blandford

    Contact: Andrea Bono-Bunker, Heather Backman

    At its December board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded a $5.4 million Small Population library construction grant to the Town of Blandford for the renovation and expansion of the Porter Memorial Library as part of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP).   For more on the details on Blandford’s MPLCP grant, visit the MBLC website.

    NEW BLOG POST! Core Connections:  Building Community Supports & Allyship at Your Library

    Contact: Ally Dowds

    This January, the MBLC is launching a 12-month series, Core Connections, to showcase how libraries are uniquely positioned to create consistent opportunities and partnerships to uplift both our patrons and our staff. The series is a mix of informational sessions, workshops and panel discussions focused on practical tools and resources to build community supports and strengthen allyship of vulnerable and marginalized individuals.  Read more about Core Connections and the monthly topics for 2026 at the MBLC Blog.

    MBLC Strategic Planning Focus Groups (Multiple Locations in-person)

    Library workers, users, partners, stakeholders, and community members are invited to share their thoughts, concerns, and questions about the future directions of Massachusetts Libraries broadly and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), the Commonwealth’s state agency that supports libraries through funding, guidance, partnerships, and the coordination of statewide services. Learn more about the MBLC, its mission, and its current programs and services by visiting the agency’s website.

    FY26 State Aid Certifications Continue!

    Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis

    Congratulations to the second group of municipalities certified for FY26 State Aid! The list of municipalities and initial awards (as well as past awards) can be found here: https://mblc.state.ma.us/programs-and-support/state-aid-and-aris/awards.php

    The third and final group of municipalities meeting all State Aid requirements will be brought before the Board of Library Commissioners at their January 8th meeting. We’ll email the State Aid listserv after the 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.

    Nine municipalities are petitioning the Board of Library Commissioners for waivers of the FY26 MAR (Municipal Appropriation Requirement). Those petitions will be presented to the Board at the January meeting, and voted on at the February 5th meeting.

    We’re taking a break from State Aid Office Hours so we can wrap up this year’s State Aid cycle- but don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about State Aid or your upcoming FY27 budget cycle!

    Justice Involved Library Services: A Roundtable Discussion (Online)

    Contact: Ally Dowds

    Thursday, January 8 at 1PM – Registration & More Information

    Connect with fellow librarians providing library services to individuals currently and formerly experiencing incarceration in state, county and youth facilities in Massachusetts. Join this conversation to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build a supportive community. Whether you work directly in a carceral facility, have experience collaborating with institutions to provide outreach, or you are a librarian interested in developing an outreach partnership, this meetup group provides a forum to come together for meaningful discussion and resource sharing.

    Registration is not required. This is an existing group that meets monthly on the first Thursday at 1pm.

    Web Accessibility Office Hours (Online)

    Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely, Kate Butler

    Friday, January 2 at 11AM – More Information & Zoom Link

    Wednesday, January 21 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.

    Library Advisory Office Hours (Online)

    Contact: Al Hayden

    Monday, January 12 at 9AM – More Information & Zoom Link

    Monday, January 26 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!

    Core Connections: Welcoming Patrons Who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Late Deafened to Your Library (Online)

    Contact: Ally Dowds

    Wednesday, January 14 at 2PM – Registration & More Information

    Join us for a new 12-month series that showcases the value of library strategic partnerships and meaningful allyship in our work environments to provide supports to vulnerable and marginalized individuals. January’s topic is Welcoming Patrons Who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Late Deafened to Your Library.  Learn more about the topics to come at the MBLC’s Core Connections page.

    Social Services in Libraries Roundtable (Online)

    Contact: Ally Dowds

    Thursday, January 21 at 11AM – Registration & More Information

    Explore how libraries can enhance community support through social services. Connect with librarians, social workers, and social service providers to share insights, success stories, and practical tips.

    Library Trustee Orientation (Online)

    Contact: Al Hayden

    Libraries need active and engaged trustees now more than ever. If you are a new trustee hoping to learn more about your role or a more seasoned trustee looking for a deeper understanding of the basics, you are invited to the MBLC’s Library Trustee Orientation.

    This is a 4-session course where you will learn more about your role and responsibilities as a Library Trustee.

    • If you are unable to attend all 4 sessions live, please register anyway to receive the recordings and resources.
    • Sessions will be recorded and sent to all registrants
    • Resources (including slides) will be sent to all registrants

    ESOL Roundtable Discussion (Online)

    Contact: Ally Dowds

    Wednesday, January 28 at 1PM – More Information and Zoom Link

    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.

    MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on February 5 (Hybrid)
    Contact:Rachel Masse

    The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the MBLC Offices.

    Library Trustees and Advocacy (Online)

    Contact: Al Hayden

    Wednesday, February 11 at 2PM – Registration & More Information

    Keep your public library a part of local, county, and state conversations. In this webinar, Al Hayden, Library Advisory Specialist with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, will discuss ways that library trustees and other library advocates can keep their public library a part of the local, county, and state conversations throughout the year.  This webinar will be hosted by Niche Academy.

    Introduction to Canva for Library Advocates (Online)

    Contact: Al Hayden

    Tuesday, February 17 at 12PM – Registration & More Information

    Library advocates are increasingly asked to communicate with library supporters across different platforms and in different ways. If you find yourself struggling to keep up, or are creating flyers, newsletters, or social media posts with tools that don’t quite fit your vision, you’re invited spend your lunch hour learning how to use Canva, an online graphic design tool that is user-friendly, free, and already used by many of the libraries you’re supporting.

    In this program, you will get an introduction to the basics of Canva with a focus on tools you can use to advocate for your library. Live demonstrations will get you started creating, editing, and adapting designs like infographics, flyers, newsletters, and more that can be used for fundraising, advocacy, and communications about your mission. You will also be provided with a prompt that encourages you to practice your new skill set after the session.

    This session will be recorded, and the recording will be sent out to all registrants.

  • Closing the Chapter on 2025

    ~ MBLC Chair Vicky Biancolo

    Group photo of the MBLC Staff at the Commissioner Awards on November 6, 2025, at the Massachusetts State House, posing behind a sign that reads “The MBLC’s 135th Anniversary".
    MBLC staff not pictured: Amy Clayton, Terry D’Angelo, Jen Inglis, Jaccavrie McNeely, Uechi Ng, Aparna Ramachandran and Lilli Sutton.

    It is often said that it is within the struggle that we find our strength. That certainly holds true for 2025. In the face of extreme chaos, financial challenges, and threats to the very core of what we stand for, as a community we united, we pushed back and we reaffirmed that we will always stand up for each other and the people we serve.

    And we kept moving forward.

    Gloucester, Melrose, Sharon and Swansea dedicated new libraries, the ultimate sign of hope. After years of needing a waiver to be certified in State Aid, Lawrence joined 347 other certified public libraries to receive its share of $20 million, the highest state aid grants awarded in the State Aid to Public Libraries program history.

    And we celebrated.

    The MBLC turned 135 years old this year, but we were the ones who stood in admiration of the Commissioner Award Winners: Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Massachusetts Senator Jacob Oliveira, Executive Director of the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library Kim Charlson, the Massachusetts Trans Librarians Group, and former MBLC Chair Mary Ann Cluggish.

    And we triumphed.

    Led by stirring remarks from Senators Julian Cyr and Jacob Oliveira, the state Senate passed Freedom to Read legislation as well as a bill that would protect libraries from the unfair pricing of eBooks. At the federal level, the recent judicial ruling ensures that the Institute of Museum and Library Services can continue delivering critical support and funding for libraries nationwide and prohibits any further attempts to dismantle the agency. As I write this, we at the MBLC are already working to rebuild our federal program.

    As MBLC Chair, I am grateful to work with you and proud of all that we have achieved together. There is no doubt the year ahead will bring its share of challenges, but I am confident we are up to the task. On behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, I thank you and wish you a joyful season and a very Happy New Year.

    Best Wishes,

    Vicky Biancolo

    MBLC Chair

    Group photo of the MBLC Commissioners at the Commissioner Awards on November 6, 2025, at the Massachusetts State House, posing behind a sign that reads “The MBLC’s 135th Anniversary,” with historic statues and murals visible in the background.
    MBLC Commissioners from Left to Right: Commissioner Kemarah Sika, Commissioner Kate Chang, Commissioner Karen Traub, Commissioner George Comeau, Chair Vicky Biancolo, Vice Chair Tim Cherubini, Commissioner Debby Conrad, Secretary Joyce Linehan, and Commissioner Jessica Vilas

    Click the image to download.

  • Core Connections: Building Community Supports & Allyship at Your Library

    Core connections logo

    ~ Ally Dowds, MBLC Consultant to Special Populations

    This January, the MBLC is launching a 12-month series, Core Connections, to showcase how libraries are uniquely positioned to create consistent opportunities and partnerships to uplift both our patrons and our staff. The series is a mix of informational sessions, workshops and panel discussions focused on practical tools and resources to build community supports and strengthen allyship of vulnerable and marginalized individuals.

    Join us each month to explore new topics with statewide partners and library peers that address emerging library trends, adaptive and accessible spaces for people living with disabilities, and outreach to isolated community members who may be aging, struggling with mental health or justice impacted. Leave with a sense of learning, understanding and deeper support for what it means to break down barriers and foster a culture of care.

    Core Connections Roadmap

    Building connections isn’t just one single step. It’s ongoing work and immersion. Monthly topics are still developing, may evolve or shift, but the roadmap ahead will hopefully guide and pique your interests to join the conversation.

    January: Welcoming Patrons Who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Late Deafened to Your Library

    Explore how to create a welcoming environment for patrons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or late deafened in real-world library settings. Facilitated by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

    February: Supporting Aging Populations

    Learn about statewide resources and gain practical strategies for developing age-friendly environments and cultivating partnerships. Facilitated by the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative & The Executive Office of Aging & Independence

    March: Building LGBTQIA+ Affirming Library Workplaces

    For library managers, directors and trustees. This session offers a forum to explore what meaningful allyship looks like for LGBTQ+ library staff, how library spaces are an essential part of allyship, and a general overview on what can be done to make your workplaces safer and more LGBTQIA+ affirming. Facilitated by the Massachusetts Commission for LGBTQIA Youth

    April: Trauma-Informed Engagement in Librarianship

    Take a collective breath with Somerville Public Library’s very own social worker, Jake Savage, and familiarize yourself with trauma and the concept of trauma-informed engagement to develop strategies for working with library patrons.

    May: Libraries as Health Equity Hubs

    A panel featuring perspectives from staff at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health encouraging conversations on mental health in the workplace and among library service populations.

    June: Emerging Trends in Public Library Services

    A panel discussion featuring thought leaders from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons University on what emerging library trends will impact staff and patrons today, tomorrow and in the future.

    July: Law for Librarians

    Hear from library colleagues in Massachusetts who have participated in ALA’s Law for Librarians and are part of a national cadre of trainers empowered to deflect censorship challenges and other legal hurdles impacting libraries.

    August: Finding Grants and Funding

    As this series builds partnerships and germinates ideas, the next step may be the need for critical funding. Join the MBLC staff and industry colleagues to discuss pathways for funding of new and evolving projects.

    September: Allyship in Leadership: Supporting BIPOC Library Staff

    For library managers, directors and trustees. A conversation around guidance and dialogue to learn actionable strategies for fostering inclusive leadership and uplifting the experiences of BIPOC staff in library workplaces.

    October: Libraries Beyond Accessibility: Serving Patrons with Print and Other Disabilities

    Many libraries throughout the Commonwealth are designated access centers and offer special assistive aids and technology. Learn how your library can take this conversation beyond technology and tools for comprehensive, universal engagement. Facilitated by Perkins Library.

    November: Allyship in Leadership: Supporting Staff with Disabilities

    For library managers, directors and trustees. A conversation around guidance and dialogue on how to foster an inclusive, accessible and legally compliant workplace through reasonable accommodations, respectful communication and supportive practices. 

    December: Bridging gaps in services to justice-involved communities

    Learn from a panel of library colleagues about how your library can bridge service gaps and better support justice-involved community members through inclusive, informed practices.

    Confirmed session details and registration for individual Building Community Supports and Allyship sessions are available on the MBLC Calendar.  Session overviews, current information and recordings are located on the Core Connections series webpage. 

  • Libraries in the News – November 2025 📰

    Library News from Across the Commonwealth and the Nation* 

    Have a news story you’d like to share? Please email the link to MBLC Communications Specialist June Thammasnong, thank you! 

    PDF Libraries in the News – November 2025Download

    Local News 🗞️

    MBLC Starts Federal Program Rebuild  – MBLC Press Release (12/5/2025)  

    On December 3, 2025, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced it had reinstated all federal grants which were terminated due to Executive Order 14238 signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025. The goal of the executive order was to eliminate IMLS “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”

    Link to full press release at MBLC website 

    $5.4 Million Library Construction Grant Awarded to Blandford  – MBLC Press Release (12/4/2025)  

    At its December board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded a $5.4 million Small Population library construction grant to the Town of Blandford for the renovation and expansion of the Porter Memorial Library as part of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Small population grants are awarded to municipalities with populations less than 2,500. 

    Link to full press release at MBLC website 

    ‘Free expression’ bill lays out process for book access, removal – State House News Service via The Berkshire Eagle (11/6/2025)  

    Senate Democrats on Thursday scheduled for action legislation to address book bans and strengthen protections for public transit workers who experience violence on the job. 

    Link to full article via The Berkshire Eagle 

    Related: 

    State Senate OKs Feeney’s bill to improve library access to digital resources—The Foxboro Reporter (11/20/2025) 

    The Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to help Massachusetts Public Libraries more accessibly provide in-demand digital resources such as eBooks and audiobooks. 

    State Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxboro, is the lead sponsor of the bill, as well as the Senate Chair of the Library Legislative Caucus. 

    Link to full article from the Foxboro Reporter 

    Related: 

    Signed steel beam placed in Fitchburg library under construction –Sentintel & Enterprise (11/23/2025)  

    FITCHBURG — Friday’s momentous occasion in the city marked another chapter in the library renovation project. 

    State and local officials, members of the library project’s campaign committee, members of the business community and others were invited to sign a steel beam that was then lifted by a crane and put solidly into place at the construction site of the new library that is scheduled to be completed next year. 

    Link to full article from Sentinel & Enterprise 

    Related: 

    Comerford talks grants, health insurance and legislative priorities with Erving officials –Greenfield Recorder (11/13/2025)  

    ERVING — State Sen. Jo Comerford joined Erving officials this week to discuss the town’s successes and challenges, including recent grant awards and the impact of rising health insurance costs.  One of the main pieces of legislation Comerford mentioned is a bill that would establish a municipal and public safety building authority to help towns afford improvements to or replacement of municipal buildings. Comerford said it would be similar to the state Board of Library Commissioners’ Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program. 

    Link to full article from the Greenfield Recorder 

    Swansea’s $19M library is open to the public.  Take a peek inside the ‘beautiful’ space –The Herald News (11/12/2025)  

    SWANSEA — The Swansea Free Public Library is officially buzzing with activity at its Main Street location that served roughly 75 patrons after just four hours after opening on Nov. 10.  

    Swansea’s library construction project was supported in part by an MBLC Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) grant. 

    Link to full article from The Herald News 

    Senator Jake Oliveira receives award for library advocacy–WWLP (11/8/2025)  

    BOSTON (WWLP) – State Senator Jake Oliveira (Ludlow-D) has received the Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast Award in recognition of his leadership in strengthening public libraries across the Commonwealth. 

    Link to full article on WWLP.com 

    Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners honors Wellesley’s Mary Ann Cluggish – The Swellesley Report (11/6/2025)  

    Congrats to Wellesley’s Mary Ann Cluggish, this year’s recipient of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ Elizabeth P. Sohier Award. A ceremony honoring Cluggish and others was held on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the State House. 

    Link to full article at The Swellesley Report 

    What about YOUR Library? – Al Hayden, MBLC Blog (11/21/2025) 

    If you’ve followed me all the way down this experimental rabbit hole, thank you!  Here’s what we’ve learned about what happens in libraries in an economic downturn:  Massachusetts libraries did more with less.  I’ve created an editable infographic template and accompanying spreadsheet that you can use to learn and share more about what a recession may look like for your library. 

    Link to full post on the MBLC Blog 

    Library on Track for Early 2026 Opening – The Belmont Voice (10/17/2025) 

    The municipal rink is weeks shy of its grand opening, and the new library, located just across the street, will be following in its footsteps. 

    “It’s pretty exciting,” said Library Director Peter Struzziero. “I’m working on my 11th year, and I’ve been working on the project the whole time and we’ll be open in less than three months.” 

    Link to full post on The Belmont Voice 

    Plans to replace the library in Otis are back on track after an attempt to block the project failed – The Berkshire Eagle (10/29/2025) 

    OTIS — Plans to build a new library are on track after a citizens petition seeking to stop the project failed to receive enough support. 

    Link to full article from The Berkshire Eagle 

    National News 🗞️ 

    ALA welcomes reinstatement of all federal IMLS grants to libraries– American Library Association Press Release (12/3/2025)  

    Washington – Today, the American Library Association (ALA) greeted an announcement by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that it had reinstated all the agency’s grants, including those to libraries and library organizations across the country. The grant reinstatements come as a direct result of a November 21 federal court decision in a lawsuit brought against President Trump by 21 states. 

    Link to full press release via American Library Association 

    A Major Court Win for IMLS, Libraries – Book Riot (11/24/2025) 
    U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell ruled in favor of 21 state attorneys general suing Donald Trump over the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and several other small federal agencies. This permanent injunction means that the Trump administration cannot do further harm to the IMLS. 

    Link to the full article from Book Riot 

    Related: 

    Supreme Court bars Trump from firing Library of Congress official for now – CNN (11/26/2025) 
    The Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from replacing a top official at the Library of Congress for now, deferring a decision on his emergency appeal until it resolves a pair of related cases. 

    Link to the full article from CNN 

    Federal Cuts, Immigration Raids and a Slowing Economy Hit Rural Libraries – The New York Times (11/10/2025) 

    Cole Leinbach, a librarian in Tieton, Wash., population 1,610, watched intently as a 7-year-old girl hunkered down with a book in a corner of the town’s one-room library. Her brother, 4, had opened a board game searching for potential toys. Their mother talked quietly on her phone in Spanish. 

    “This is what libraries are supposed to be,” he said, “just a place a mom can go with her kids for an hour to hang out and get some kind of enriching entertainment.” 

    Link to the full article from The New York Times   

    8 Best American Cities for People Who Love Libraries – Mental Floss (11/30/2025) 
    Travel to these cities to explore the gorgeous—and extensive—public libraries.  The list includes Boston, MA. 

    Link to the full article from Mental Floss 

    *Links provided to external (non-MBLC) news stories are done so as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the MBLC. MBLC bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.