📰 July 2025 Libraries in the News

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 – July 2025Download

🗞️ Local News

📄 State and Regional Sector Leaders Testify on $2.8M in Terminated NEA, NEH, and IMLS Grants – by Emily Ruddock, New England Foundation for the Arts (7/21/2025)
BOSTON (7/16/25) – On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability held an oversight hearing by invitation to learn how recent federal funding cuts and the proposed elimination of federal arts agencies is impacting the creative sector in Massachusetts and communities that cultural organizations serve. MASSCreative, Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, New England Foundation for the Arts, New England Museum Association, and other local, state, and regional cultural organizations were invited to testify before the House Committee and their guests from the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. 

Link to full article from the New England Foundation for the Arts

Link to hearing details and to view full testimonies, including testimonies from MBLC Director Maureen Amyot, American Library Association President Maria McCauley and Boston Public Library President David Leonard

📄 FY2026 State Budget and Library Legislation – MBLC News Release (7/10/2025)
Governor Maura Healey recently signed the $60 billion FY2026 state budget which includes $52,411,000 for libraries. The budget level funds all but two Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) budget lines: the Board of Library Commissioners Support and Outreach Services line (7000-9101) which was reduced by $21,341 and Technology and Resource Sharing line (7000-9506) which received a $3,210 increase. The full budget chart is available on the MBLC website.
Link to full article from the MBLC

📄 Library cuts threaten the “bridge across the digital divide”– by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (7/16/2025)
BOSTON (SHNS) – Summer reading programs, English language classes, online research databases used in public schools across the state, free newspaper archives, e-book access, and GRE and career prep resources are on the chopping block as a cut to federal funding is poised to hit Massachusetts libraries.

Link to full article from State House News Service posted on 22 NEWS WWLP

📄 Federal cuts to library services could impact research tools used mostly by students – by Phillip Bishop, New England Public Media (7/21/2025)
Federal cuts to library service funding could disrupt key resources that could lead to struggles for students in the next school year.

Link to full article from New England Public Media

📄 E-books rise, budgets fall: Berkshire libraries navigate a shifting landscape – by Dylan Thompson, The Berkshire Eagle (7/28/2025)

LANESBOROUGH — Even as public libraries face federal funding cuts, staff shortages and rising demand for digital media, Lanesborough Public Library Director Sheila Parks believes libraries are “more important than ever.”

Link to full article from The Berkshire Eagle

📄 FY2026 MBLC Officers Elected – MBLC News Release (7/10/2025)
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) elected new officers to serve for FY2026 at its Board Meeting on July 10, 2025.
Link to full article from the MBLC

📄 MassArt at the Library Returns – MBLC News Release(7/10/2025)
MassArt at the Library is returning for another summer of connecting people to art through workshops at public libraries. The program, sponsored by The Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), places MassArt faculty and student ambassadors in public libraries so that children and teens can experience the benefits of art creation, learn about the creative process, connect with MassArt faculty and students, and explore art as a possible career path.
Link to full article from the MBLC

📄 Chapters in chairs: ‘Lounging for Literacy II’ draws 240 to Westhampton Library – but no new world record – by Samuel Gelinas, Daily Hampshire Gazette (7/10/2025)
WESTHAMPTON — Exactly 240 people came out with their lawn chairs on Saturday at the town’s library in hopes of being a part of a world record for the largest gathering of people reading in lawn chairs.
Link to full article from the Daily Hampshire Gazette

📄 Boston Bruins helping boost literacy through summer reading program – by Matt Price and Ryan Trowbridge, Western Mass News (7/22/2025)

RUSSELL, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – While school is out, kids are still being advised to do a little summer reading and, in Russell on Tuesday, some of those young ones got a little sports surprise from Boston to get them motivated.

Link to full article from Western Mass News

More articles on the Blades visit to Russell Public Library:

📄 Boston Bruins mascot, Blades, takes center ice at Hadley Library – by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette (7/23/2025)

HADLEY — Posing for pictures, signing autographs and participating in crafts and other activities, Blades, the mascot for the Boston Bruins, and more than 20 University of Massachusetts hockey players, thrilled hockey fans of all ages at the Hadley Public Library Tuesday afternoon.

Link to full article from Daily Hampshire Gazette

🗞️ National News

📄 Early Closure of House Leaves IMLS Future Hanging; What This Means & What You Can Do – by Kelly Jensen, Book Riot (7/29/2025)
On March 14, the Trump administration announced via an Executive Order that the only federal agency dedicated to public libraries and museums, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) would be dismantled. Since that time, employees have been laid off and federal funding has been revoked and reinstated nationwide. The Trump-appointed acting director of the agency, Keith Sonderling, made clear that the purpose of the agency going forward would be state propaganda.

Link to full article from Book Riot

📄 Senators—Including Republicans—Reject All of Trump’s Proposed Education Cuts – by Mark Leiberman, Education Week (7/31/2025)
Key U.S. senators from both parties on Thursday decisively rejected virtually all the Trump administration’s proposals to slash K-12 education investments—and pushed back against its efforts to shrink the Department of Education and move its functions to other agencies.

Link to full article from Education Week

📄 The Trump Administration is Threatening Libraries, Museums, and Other Nonprofits That Support the Arts, Humanities and Learning – by Cristin Dorgelo, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (7/7/2025)
The Trump Administration is attacking federal support for thousands of community libraries, museums, and other nonprofits that support the arts, humanities, and learning, diminishing programs and services provided daily to families across every U.S. state and territory.

Link to full article from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

📄 The Trump Administration is Threatening Libraries, Museums, and Other Nonprofits That Support the Arts, Humanities and Learning – by Cristin Dorgelo, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (7/7/2025)
The Trump Administration is attacking federal support for thousands of community libraries, museums, and other nonprofits that support the arts, humanities, and learning, diminishing programs and services provided daily to families across every U.S. state and territory.

Link to full article from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

📄 Large Public Libraries Give Young Adults Across U.S. Access to Banned Books– by Claire Woodcock, EdSurge (7/3/2025)
Young adults are finding it harder to borrow books reflective of their lived experiences in their schools and public libraries. It isn’t because these stories don’t exist — they do — but because they’ve been challenged and removed, restricted, or were never purchased at all.

Link to full article from EdSurge

📄 Libraries Pay More for E-Books.  Some States Want to Change That. – by Erik Ofgang, The New York Times (7/16/2025)
It’s hard to imagine a library that doesn’t carry “Fahrenheit 451.” But making Ray Bradbury’s classic novel about book burning available to libraries in an e-book format can be its own little dystopian nightmare, according to Carmi Parker, a librarian with the Whatcom County Library System in northwest Washington.

That’s because library access to digital books and digital audiobooks — often collectively referred to as e-books — generally costs much more than the print version of these books.

Link to full article from The New York Times

📄 More than 90 Authors to Join the 25th Library of Congress National Book Festival – Library of Congress Press Release (7/8/2025)
Uniting book lovers for 25 years, the Library of Congress National Book Festival will return on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Throughout the day, attendees will hear conversations with more than 90 authors whose literary genres range from fiction to nonfiction, picture book to biography, poetry to young adult, and more.

Link to full article from the Library of Congress Newsroom

📄 Trump has fired the head of the Library of Congress, but the 225-year-old institution remains a ‘library for all’ – so far – by Alex H. Poole, The Conversation (7/23/2025)

Carla Hayden, the 14th librarian of Congress, who has held the position since 2016, received an unexpected email on May 8, 2025.

“Carla, on behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service,” wrote Trent Morse, deputy director of presidential personnel at the White House.

Link to full article from The Conversation

📄 The Internet Archive just became an official U.S. federal library – by Chase DiBenedetto, Mashable (7/25/2025)
Internet Archive — the no-cost, nonprofit digital library that has become embroiled in the nationwide battle over copyrights and free speech — is now an official source for government documents. According to a new designation announced by California Senator Alex Padilla, the website will join a network of more than 1,000 libraries around the country tasked with archiving government documents for public view. Unlike other designated federal depository libraries, as they are known, the Archive is entirely online. 

Link to full article from Mashable

📄 School Librarians Share Concerns, Hopes in the New School Year – by Kara Yorio, School Library Journal (7/30/2025)

At a Title I district in New Jersey, a high school librarian was already concerned about her students heading into the 2025–26 school year. The loss of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding meant limited or possibly no databases for research. Frozen federal funding threatened after school programs that keep kids safe, fed, and on-track academically. Then, on July 14, the Supreme Court issued a shadowdocket ruling with no explanation that allows the Trump administration to proceed with its dismantling of the Department of Education. And the librarian’s worries escalated.

Link to full article from School Library Journal

📄 The 10 most beautiful libraries in the world – by Kaela Ling, CNBC (7/31/2025)

Some libraries aren’t just places to borrow books — they’re destinations with deep history and architecture that tell stories beyond the pages.

The 1000 Libraries Awards 2025 highlights some of the most beautiful libraries and bookstores globally, according to200,000 online voters.

Link to the full article from CNBC

*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.

Service Update – July 30, 2025

MBLC Service Update – July 2025Download

🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on August 7th (Hybrid) 
Contact: Rachel Masse

The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, August 7th, 2025, at the Marlborough Public Library. 

📝NEW BLOG POST: Immigration Enforcement and Library Spaces 

Contact: Ally Dowds 

Libraries serve as vital community hubs and value their institutions as welcoming spaces that take proactive steps to protect patron rights and intellectual freedoms. MBLC’s blog post, Immigration Enforcement and Library Spaces, suggests pathways for how to support staff and sustain our place as trusted institutions for our most vulnerable patrons.  To read the full post, visit the MBLC Blog. 

📋 New Americans Resources for Immigrants 

Contact: Ally Dowds 

The MBLC’s resources page for New Americans provides a comprehensive collection of tools and information to assist immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts. It includes citizenship resources, legal aid, and ALA’s guide to Libraries and Immigration Enforcement. 

📜 Reach Out to NEDCC for Disaster Assistance 

Contact: Jess Colati 

With the onset of hurricane season, please remember that you can connect with the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) for telephone, on-site and online resources and assistance when handling collection-related disasters or for emergency planning.  Visit (and bookmark) the NEDCC’s Disaster Assistance page for more information. 

🖥️ Environmental Monitoring: Identifying and Monitoring for Mold (Online) 

Contact: Jess Colati  

Tuesday, August 12 at 2 PM – Registration 

Conserv, MBLC’s environmental monitoring program partner, offers a brief overview of mold risks and monitoring methods in library and archival collections. Open to all. Registration required. This webinar will be recorded.  

💻 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. 

📰 FY2026 State Budget and Library Legislation 

Contact: Rob Favini 

Governor Maura Healey recently signed the $60 billion FY2026 state budget which includes $52,411,000 for libraries. The budget level funds all but two Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) budget lines: the Board of Library Commissioners Support and Outreach Services line (7000-9101) which was reduced by $21,341 and Technology and Resource Sharing line (7000-9506) which received a $3,210 increase. The full budget chart is available on the MBLC website. To read more about FY2026 state funding to libraries, visit the MBLC website. 

📰 2026 MBLC Officers Elected 

Contact: June Thammasnong 

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) elected new officers to serve for FY2026 at its Board Meeting on July 10, 2025. The elected positions of Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary form the Executive Committee of the MBLC. The Executive Committee is elected every July by the board for a term of one year. Commissioners can serve for two successive one-year terms in any office and after one year off the committee are eligible for election again.  To read more about the newly elected Executive Committee, visit the MBLC Website. 

📰 MassArt at the Library Returns 

Contact: Celeste Bruno 

MassArt at the Library is returning for another summer of connecting people to art through workshops at public libraries. The program, sponsored by The Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), places MassArt faculty and student ambassadors in public libraries so that children and teens can experience the benefits of art creation, learn about the creative process, connect with MassArt faculty and students, and explore art as a possible career path. To read more about this summer’s MassArt Workshops, visit the MBLC website.  

🖼️ For photos from the recent MassArt Sustainable Fashion Workshop in Lowell, visit the MBLC’s Flickr album. 

🗓️ARIS Closes on Friday, August 15th 

Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis 

State Aid ARIS & Financial Report season continues! The FY26 ARIS survey will close on Friday, August 15th, and the FY26 Financial Report will open on Monday, August 4th and close on Friday, October 3rd. Financial Report workshops begin this month, and Waiver workshops will begin in September- view  all upcoming trainings here. 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.   

💬 ARIS Drop-in Hours (Online) 

Contact: Jen Inglis 

Friday, August 1st at 10AM – Zoom Link 

Monday, August 4th at 2PM – Zoom Link 

Wednesday, August 6th at 10AM – Zoom Link 

Monday, August 11th at 2PM – Zoom Link 

Wednesday, August 13th at 10AM – Zoom Link 

Drop-in with any and all questions about the ARIS survey before it closes on Friday, August 15th at 5pm (with signed signature pages emailed to Uechi.Ng@mass.gov)! No registration needed; use the same Zoom link for all Open Hours. 

🖥️ Environmental Monitoring: Identifying and Monitoring for Mold (Online) 

Contact: Jess Colati  

Tuesday, August 12 at 2 PM – Registration 

Conserv, MBLC’s environmental monitoring program partner, offers a brief overview of mold risks and monitoring methods in library and archival collections. Open to all. Registration required. This webinar will be recorded.  

💻 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 August and 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. 

🗨️ Preservation Office Hours (Online)  

Contact: Jess Colati  

Tuesday, August 5 at 10 AM – Zoom Link  

Tuesday, August 19 at 10 AM – Zoom Link   

Open to all interested in ensuring safe and stable storage and improving collection management for your library or organization’s preservation projects.  Connect with the MBLC’s Preservation Specialist, Jess Colati and colleagues around the Commonwealth that work to advance the protection of cultural collections during monthly office hours.  Sessions and chats are not recorded or saved. 

🗓️August Financial Report Workshops (Online) 

Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis 

Tuesday, August 26th at 1pm – More Information & Registration 

Thursday, August 28th at 10am- 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. Financial Report Workshops (and Waiver Workshops) continue in September- see them all here. Registration is required. 

📅 Get to Know Your Local Trial Court Law Libraries (Online) 

Contact: Ally Dowds 

Tuesday, August 19 at 11AM – Registration & More Information 

Join staff from the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries to learn about legal resources available to the general public and library staff. Services like Ask a Law Librarian and Document Delivery Service and informational access to Massachusetts and Federal legal forms, treatises, and case law research support legal research needs across the Commonwealth and may equip you with skills and tools to use during your next reference-based interaction.  Registration is required. 

🤝Library Advisory Office Hours (Online) 

Contact: Al Hayden 

Monday, August 11 at 9AM – More Information & Zoom Link 

Monday, August 25 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! 

🕙 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. 

Immigration Enforcement and Library Spaces

By Ally Dowds, MBLC Consultant, Services to Special Populations

Libraries serve as vital community hubs and value their institutions as welcoming spaces that take proactive steps to protect patron rights and intellectual freedoms. Current federal immigration enforcement activities throughout Massachusetts and the broader United States have left library staff and stakeholders grappling with how best to support vulnerable community members and remain committed to missions rooted in diverse and inclusive practices. Below are suggested pathways to support staff and sustain our place as trusted institutions for all patrons.

Clear policies and procedures

As both a community and very public space, libraries may develop institutional procedures to feel better prepared to respond to ICE inquiries. This could include designating points of contact, outlining clear communication channels, or facilitating regular staff workshops on bystander training, patron privacy or emergency response to reduce uncertainty and support effective response. One place to start is to review the MA Library System’s collection of policy samples.

Ultimately, librarians cannot dispense legal advice, but we can provide access to information, and this includes material related to an individual’s constitutional and statutory rights. Review the rights and legal framework for ICE stops, arrests, and inquiries found within Know Your Rights guidance from the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General or refer patrons to local resources on Boston Public Library’s expansive Legal Services Referral list.

Lastly, check to see if your city or town has developed its own laws around federal civil immigration enforcement. The Massachusetts Municipal Association has shared this official statement signed by leaders from 13 cities and one town on ICE activities in their communities.

Know Your Rights and Theirs

A good place to start is ALA’s How to Respond to Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information. This comprehensive guide on patron privacy may help you prepare for and respond to requests from law enforcement while upholding First and Fourth Amendment freedoms, professional ethics and state laws. If legal advice or expert opinion is needed, please do consult with the library’s local municipal attorney as they often have the final say on town legal matters.

A good place to start is ALA’s How to Respond to Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information. This comprehensive guide on patron privacy may help you prepare for and respond to requests from law enforcement while upholding First and Fourth Amendment freedoms, professional ethics and state laws. If legal advice or expert opinion is needed, please do consult with the library’s local municipal attorney as they often have the final say on town legal matters.

Sometimes all we can be in the moment is a good bystander. Someone to bear witness, relay information, or make a phone call. Page 3 of the Attorney General’s Know Your Rights guidance outlines these rights. Read it. Decide how and if this fits into your role, and remember, “Bystanders are not required to answer questions about their own immigration status or the status of another person.”

Post-event staff support

If your staff, your patrons, or your colleagues experience immigration enforcement in your library space, it is important to address and assess the impact this experience has on the individual or group. Review procedures, be an ally, provide staff training, host listening sessions, or connect employees and colleagues to Employee Assistance Program services.

Community engagement and education

Why should libraries concern themselves with immigration enforcement? Look to your library mission, which often encourages a library to be the mirrors and windows to the community it serves. Some of the basic ethical underpinnings of libraries is to offer free, nonjudgemental spaces for people to access lifelines to information. Libraries do this regardless of immigration status.

Collaborate with partners like the MIRA Coalition to support immigrant communities on topics like bystander training, Family Preparedness, or legal clinics. Engage with local resources to ensure you are providing safe and accurate information to your patrons and staff. Display informational flyers in multiple languages that highlight immigration hotlines, Know Your Rights basics, or Citizenship Assistance and empower patrons through informational access.

And finally, continue to build trust through collections that showcase diverse voices, programs that bridge the differences of our languages, and staff that welcome all through your doors.

MBLC Update – July 18

Dear Colleagues:

We’re taking every opportunity to keep the federal IMLS issue (especially databases) at the forefront for legislators—your help with that is making a difference and is greatly appreciated.

This week I testified at the State House at an invitation only hearing before the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability. It was an opportunity for libraries and others from the cultural sector to talk about the effect of federal policy changes and funding cuts on our organizations. I was joined by Boston Public Library President David Leonard and American Library Association President-Elect and Cambridge Public Library Director Maria McCauley. We worked together to give legislators the full impact of the federal crisis on libraries and library users in Massachusetts. Thank you, Maria and David, for your support and for your leadership. You can view our testimonies here: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5276

The hearing continues to get some great media coverage. Our testimonies were the lead story in State House News and more coverage is below:
NBC Boston
MassCreative
22News WWLP

More on Funding
As I mentioned last week, the MBLC continues to submit reimbursements to IMLS to try to get the federal funding that was approved  (and then stopped) for FY2025—on the federal timeline, FY2025 ends on September 30th (unlike the state timeline in which FY2025 ended on July 30). We were able to use one small reimbursement to restore statewide membership to United for Libraries. Al Hayden just sent out notice that people can register for the upcoming virtual conference.

This is not an indicator that our FY2025 IMLS funding will be restored by September 30, nor does it mean that IMLS will be funded for FY2026. Like many state organizations that rely on federal funding (as we heard from many of our colleagues at this week’s hearing), we’re proceeding with extreme caution as we grapple with service cuts now and brace for potential further fallout from the recently passed federal budget and continued uncertainty about the future of IMLS.

Please continue to reach out with any questions you have. We appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Maureen Amyot

Director, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

MBLC Update – July 11

Dear Colleagues:

It’s been a busy few weeks with both the state and federal budgets passed. I’ve included some key takeaways and actions needed below.

Now is the time for IMLS funding
Funding to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will be decided in the next few weeks. It is critical to contact legislators now.

In the federal budget framework that was just passed, IMLS is funded at $6 million to essentially close down the agency. BUT that is not a done deal. While IMLS is part of the federal budget, Congress, not the President, determines how much funding IMLS will get.

The House Appropriations Committee is currently reviewing and marking up the budget. The subcommittee overseeing funding for IMLS is scheduled for Monday, July 21.  Members of this committee can be contacted.
This article on BookRiot has valuable information about who to contact and what information to include.


The federal budget impacts the state budget.
Governor Healey signed the state budget last week. State legislators and officials are determining how federal budget cuts will impact the state. But the Governor has already been proactive. According to the Healey and Driscoll Administration, “Governor Healey is vetoing $130 million, resulting in a final budget that is more than $1 billion less than the H1 proposal and $130 million less than the final conference budget. The administration is also continuing an Executive Branch hiring freeze, halting a planned non-union manager pay raise scheduled for January, saving $17 million, and delaying payment on earmarked funds for local projects in the budget totaling approximately $125 million until later in the year when more is understood about their affordability.”

The state budget level funds all but two Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) budget lines—in this climate that is good news. However, it is tempered with a $21,341 cut to the Board of Library Commissioners Support and Outreach Services line (7000-9101). For FY2026, the MBLC requested an increase of $414,854 to this line. Given the federal uncertainty, this funding is even more critical for agency staff and operations and was funded below FY2025 levels at $2,052,927.

What is the status of IMLS?
In addition to funding hurdle, the reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) of 2018 needs to happen by September 30. This is done by Congresson a six-year cycle. The 2018 MLSA authorizes spending levels through October 1, 2025. It is critical to contact legislators about reauthorization.

The MBLC has had very limited contact with IMLS since much of the agency’s workforce was placed on leave. Last week the Supreme Court’s ruling on mass firings at federal agencies seems to support the Trump Administration’s reduction in workforce efforts. It’s unclear whether IMLS staff will be brought back while Massachusetts and other states pursue legal avenues.

As I’ve mentioned in previous updates, the way the IMLS funding works in Massachusetts is that the MBLC expends money and is then reimbursed by IMLS for those expenses. The lack of IMLS staff and the uncertainty about IMLS funding mean the risk of not being reimbursed remains high.

However, the MBLC continues to submit for reimbursements and some small reimbursements have gone through. It’s too soon to tell what that means for future reimbursements, especially with the significant hurdles that still exist for IMLS funding.  For more background the Center for Budget Policy and Priorities sums up the current circumstances well. Read the full article.

Thank you for your advocacy and your support as we navigate these difficult times together. Please continue to reach out with questions anytime.

Sincerely,

Maureen Amyot

Director, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Supreme Court Cases & Libraries

by MBLC Library Information Systems Specialist, Kate Butler

The Supreme Court has issued its final merit cases decisions on June 27. These are opinions on the cases that came before the whole court with oral arguments – what you traditionally think of as court cases.

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. In FY2025, 269 Massachusetts public libraries are part of networks that get E-Rate funding in some amount. E-Rate is not an IMLS program. It is paid out of the Universal Service Fund overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The Supreme Court heard arguments back in March in the case of the FCC vs. Consumers’ Research, a conservative group objecting to the way E-Rate is managed by the FCC.  The decision was good for E-Rate and rejected the contention that the way it was being run violated the law.  However, the program is not totally safe, given it is also facing action from Congress (specifically about the funding for Wi-Fi hotspots) and and potential changes from within the FCC, given current FCC Chair Brendan Carr dissented from some decisions voted in by the FCC commission during the Biden administration.But this is a good win. PBS has more news on this outcome.

Mahmoud v. Taylor, about LGBTQ+ books may have implications for libraries. It is focused on schools/classrooms and opt-outs. The court found in favor of the parents and their religious objections and stated opt-outs are required.
From SCOTUSblog: The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a group of Maryland parents have a right to opt their elementary-school-aged children out of instruction that includes LGBTQ+ themes. By a vote of 6-3, the justices agreed with the parents – who are Muslim, Catholic, and Ukrainian Orthodox – that the Montgomery County school board’s refusal to provide them with that option violates their constitutional right to freely exercise their religion. 

There are still 6 items that remain on the court’s shadow docket, cases that they’ve agreed to deal with on an “emergency basis.”  Two of these could affect what’s going on with Institute of Museum and Library Services – MacMahon vs. New York (about the reduction in force of Department of Education employees) and Trump v American Federation of Government Employees (about the ability of the executive branch to reorganize the whole government on a mass scale).  And there is no way to know when those will be decided. The MBLC is monitoring the cases and will share further info as we get it.

Service Update – June 25, 2025

PDF MBLC Service Update – June 2025Download

🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on July 10th (Hybrid)
Contact: Rachel Masse

The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, July 10th, 2025, at the MBLC Office.

📰 Governor Healey Appoints Kemarah Sika as MBLC Commissioner

Contact: June Thammasnong

Boston native Kemarah Sika has been appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve as a Commissioner for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).  The MBLC is a nine-member board responsible for organizing, developing and improving library services across the Commonwealth.  To read more about Commissioner Sika, visit the MBLC website.

📰 2025 Bruins Summer Reading Prizes to be Awarded to Libraries

Contact: June Thammasnong

Summer Library Programs play a significant role in keeping kids and teens connected to educational resources over the summer. Through the “When You Read, You Score!” Statewide Summer Library Program, the Boston Bruins encourage kids and teens to continue reading by awarding special prizes to participating public libraries across the Commonwealth.  To read more about this year’s prize winners, visit the MBLC Website.

📅 Supporting Library Patrons with Re-Employment Needs—An Overview by MassHire (Online)

Contact: Ally Dowds

Thursday, June 26 at 10AM – Registration & More Information

Join this informative session designed to equip library staff with tools, resources, and knowledge to support patrons navigating unemployment, layoffs, and re-employment opportunities. There are over 25 MassHire Career Centers across that state and a Rapid Response Team that provides early intervention re-employment services to employees affected by layoffs and closings.

🗓️ARIS Opens on Tuesday, July 1st!

Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis

State Aid ARIS & Financial Report season are upon us! The FY26 ARIS survey will open on July 1st and close on Friday, August 15th, and the FY26 Financial Report will open on August 4th and close on Friday, October 3rd. We are offering one more ARIS trainings this month, and Financial Report trainings will begin in August. Keep an eye out for information about ARIS-specific office hours and 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.  

🗓️ARIS Workshop (Online)

Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis

Wednesday, July 9 at 10AM – More Information & Zoom Link

‘Tis the season for ARIS (Annual Report Information & Statistics) trainings! Review the Annual Survey and learn about the new questions that will appear. Workshop information (meeting ID, etc.) will be emailed to registered participants as the date of the session approaches. Registration is required.

🗨️ Local History, Archives, and Preservation Office Hours (Online)

Contact: Jess Colati

Tuesday, July 1 at 10AM – More Info & Zoom Link

Tuesday, July 29 at 10AM – More Info & Zoom Link

Open to all interested in ensuring safe and stable storage and improving collection management for your library or organization’s preservation projects.  Connect with the MBLC’s Preservation Specialist, Jess Colati and colleagues around the Commonwealth that work to advance the protection of cultural collections during monthly office hours.  Sessions and chats are not recorded or saved.

💬 State Aid Office Hours (Online)

Contact: Cate Merlin

Wednesday, July 9 at 9AM – More Information & Zoom Link 

Wednesday, July 23 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link 

Join Cate Merlin, Head of State Programs, and your fellow Library Directors, Trustees, and others seeking advice and answers as we embark upon the FY2026 budget season. Make sure your next budget, materials spending, and hours open fully meet State Aid requirements, and share ideas for budget strategies with others- registration is not required, and session and chats will not be recorded or saved.

🤝 Fortifying Your Library: Protecting Your Library and Staff Through Policy (Online)

Contact: Al Hayden

Wednesday, July 9 at 2PM – More Information & Registration

Libraries are in need of updated policies now more than ever. Strong policy is one of the best ways to protect library staff, prevent issues, and keep unpreventable issues from escalating too far. Join Al Hayden for this webinar, which will offer practical advice for revising your library’s policies with:

  • Essential policies every library should keep updated
  • Tools to evaluate the strength of the policies you have now
  • Guidelines to consider when revising your policies
  • Suggestions for training staff on your updates
  • Communicating policy to patrons

Attendees should leave with actionable ideas to strengthen, revise, and evaluate library policy manuals.

Signup link: http://nicheacademy.com/fortifying-your-library-protecting-your-library-and-staff-through-policy

💻 Introduction to Web Accessibility (Online)

Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely, Kate Butler

Thursday, July 10 at 2PM – More Information & Registration Registration is full, but a waiting list is available.  

Join us for the first webinar in a new series discussing digital accessibility topics and building tech skills to support your website’s accessibility. We’ll discuss the Department of Justice ADA Title II ruling and how it affects libraries as well as some accessibility basics to get you started.

Have specific questions?  Accessibility office hours will be starting this summer, schedule TBA!

🤝Library Advisory Office Hours (Online)

Contact: Al Hayden

Monday, July 14 at 9AM – More Information & Zoom Link

Monday, July 28 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!

📊Census Data for Libraries: A Deeper Dive into Your Community ((Online)

Contact: Al Hayden

Tuesday, July 15 at 10AM – More Information & Registration

In this workshop you will learn how to find population and demographic data for various geographies, using data.census.gov, the Census Bureau’s premiere online data platform. Understanding community characteristics can help inform and prioritize the need for library services, funding, and programs. 

🚧 Refreshed Construction Webpages

Contact: Andrea Bono-Bunker

Check out the new content and organization of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program’s (MPLCP) webpages. In addition to updated pages for grantees, stakeholders interested in the construction program and project information will find pages on technical assistance, space planning (including a new inquiry form), pre-planning, active and past projects, funding available from other entities, and MPLCP publications, LibGuides, and podcast episodes.

🏳️‍🌈 Welcome Poster for PRIDE and Beyond!

Contact: June Thammasnong

In celebration of PRIDE, we’re delighted to share a bright new poster for your library to welcome everyone into libraries—everyday.  The poster displays “Welcome to the Library” in 12 different languages (in order of appearance: Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified), Dutch, French, Greek, Italian, Russian, Korean and Czech).  

The poster is 11×17″ but may printed on 8.5×11″, and there are two versions available to download and print from the MBLC Awarehouse:

·           Welcome to the Library Poster with space in the center for your library’s logo

·           Welcome to the Library Poster (2025) MBLC logo only (pictured to the right)

The QR code takes visitors to libraries.state.ma.us, the statewide portal for Massachusetts libraries that features information how to get a library card, the statewide calendar of events, and a statewide search for library of things.

📝 Update on Bruins Summer Materials

Contact: June Thammasnong

There’s been an unexpected delay on this year’s Bruins Summer Reading Materials due to an issue with our printers that we’re working to fix.  We’ll share an update when materials are shipped.  Thank you for your patience! 

🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on August 7th (Hybrid)
Contact: Rachel Masse

The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, August 7th, 2025, at the Marlborough Public Library.

MBLC Update June 13

letter_from_senators_warren_markey_to_director_sonderling_on_the_gutting_of_the_institute_of_museum_and_library_servicesDownload

Dear Colleagues,

It has been a quieter-than-usual week on the federal front but I did want to share one important item. Yesterday, I received an email from the Regional Director for Senator Elizabeth Warren that said, in part:

“Wanted to share this letter Senator Warren and Senator Markey sent last night to the Institute of Museum and Library Services Acting Director Keith E. Sonderling demanding answers on funding cuts to museums and libraries across the country. You can also read a full article with more context from this WBUR article … We appreciate the work MBLC and others like it do to make Massachusetts the special place that it is and will continue to support you and fight for you as best we can.”

The letter that the Senators sent is attached to this email [see or download letter above]. It is encouraging to know that our Massachusetts Senators are such strong and vocal supporters of libraries. They gave June 24 as the deadline for Mr. Sonderling’s response. If he replies, I will share the information in a future update. Thank you for all you are doing to keep our state and federal legislators informed. It really makes a difference.

Sincerely,

Maureen Amyot

Director

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

MBLC June 6 Update

Dear Colleagues,

I’d like to start this week’s update with an urgent non-IMLS issue that we’re keeping an eye on.

This week, Senator Ed Markey held a listening session to hear how the Trump Administration’s termination of the Digital Equity Act and Republican efforts to block E-Rate (Education Rate) funding for Wi-Fi hotspots are impacting Massachusetts. This funding directly impacts libraries and their ability to connect their users with broadband connectivity, devices including Wi-Fi hotspots, and digital literacy training. Members of the MBLC staff and the greater library community attended with MBLC Commissioner Jessica Vilas Novas and MBLC Head of Library Advisory and Development Rob Favini making statements.

A word about 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. In FY2025, 269 Massachusetts public libraries are part of networks that get E-Rate funding in some amount. 

E-Rate is not an IMLS program. It is paid out of the Universal Service Fund overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The fund is supported by the universal service fee that is a small surcharge applied to some types of telecom bills. This funding mechanism frees E-Rate from being dependent on Congressional appropriations and the federal budget process.

E-rate is being challenged by some members of Congress and in the court system. The Supreme Court heard arguments in March, but there is no ruling yet. You can track this on SCOTUSblog tracker.

The future of hotspots is also in question. The Senate voted last month to repeal an FCC rule that makes it possible to lend hotspots using E-rate funds.The House has not voted yet. EveryLibrary has detailed information on this issue. The School, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition also has more information and a state by state tracker that shows current hotspot usage, demonstrating the need for the program to continue.

Back to IMLS and the fallout from Executive Order 14238. Along with our partners at Boston Public Library and the Massachusetts Library System we held three zoom sessions over the last week to talk with hundreds of you about databases and other concerns. We’re working with our partners to get out more information that you can use with staff and patrons ahead of the July 1st change.

One of the most common questions we heard was, “What if funding is restored?” If it is restored, we would explore options with our partners and the library community to determine which databases and services should be reinstated.

There are significant hurdles to federal funding returning. As I’ve mentioned before, IMLS is eliminated in President Trump’s FY2026 budget. This article in BookRiot gives an excellent summary of the legal issues and the future of IMLS funding.

That doesn’t mean we stop going after the funding we need. It means that every one of us has an important role. To that end, if you have a story about how your library will be impacted by the loss of funding for digital equity initiatives, or any federal funding, Senator Markey wants to hear from you. You can tell your story at https://www.markey.senate.gov/trumpstories.  The MBLC’s Empowered by Libraries will remain active as well: https://www.lovemasslibraries.com/

Thank you again for your messages of support. Please continue to reach out anytime with questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Maureen Amyot

Director

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Public Comment Policy

If your Library Board is considered a public body, you are obligated to follow Open Meeting Laws (OML) to keep Board proceedings as transparent as possible. If your Library Board is running as the Board of a nonprofit or association library, you are not officially obligated to follow OML. However, to maintain your status as a certified public library in the Commonwealth, you will likely be funded at least in part by municipal funds (usually, though not exclusively in the form of staff salaries, benefits, etc.). Best practices suggest that even though you are not compelled by the state to follow Open Meeting Law, you still should consider doing so. Because you are using some tax dollars as part of your library budget and, as you’ve heard me mention, libraries should always show that they are good stewards of tax dollars and following open meeting laws keeps up transparency to demonstrate that.

Some boards, particularly those who are not obligated to follow OML, tend to be conflicted about allowing public commentary during their meetings. While many Board meetings are run without incident, even when public commentary is invited, contentious meetings often get a lot of publicity and have even been the subject of lawsuits. Understandably, this can make any board reluctant to keep public commentary as part of their meeting, but Boards can adopt a policy that, if followed precisely each meeting, can keep meetings running smoothly with minimal incidents.

Public Commentary

Public commentary is a period during an open meeting where the Board welcomes members of the audience (virtually or in person) to express their opinions about a matter that is relevant to the Board. There is no law that requires public meetings to have a public comment period. However, having a public comment period is generally considered best practice. Including one in your meeting agenda indicates to the public that your Board welcomes feedback from the community that your library serves. You create trust between the community and the Board when you demonstrate that you are open to hearing opinions that you may not have previously considered in your deliberations.

Setting Boundaries

If you decide that you want to welcome public participation in your meetings, you’ll need to set boundaries and stick to them. This lets the public have reasonable expectations when they come to participate and are clear about your expectations regarding their input. And, as we’ve discussed, setting expectations and boundaries are one of the ways in which policies can be most effective. I recommend looking at other policies in neighboring libraries and libraries of similar sizes and seeing what they are doing. This doesn’t mean that you need to mimic their policies, but having a sense of the “norms” around you can inform your decision so you can balance both the Board’s needs and what your community may be expecting. Here are some boundaries you may want to consider setting:

  • Time limit for total commentary – Public comments do not have to dominate your entire meeting, especially since inviting them is a courtesy and not a requirement. You are well within your rights to set a total amount of time in which people who would like to make comments are allowed to do so.
  • Time limit for individual commentary – Just like the comments do not need to be the focus of your meeting, one person’s perspective doesn’t need to be the focus of the public comments. If you are putting a limit on the total time during which the public can comment, you may want to also put a limit on the amount of time one person can speak as well. Balancing this can be tricky; you want to ensure that a person speaking has enough time to clearly state what they came to say while also discouraging rambling or repetition and ensuring that you can fit as many people into the allotted public comment time as possible.
  • Advance requests – Some Boards will not consider public commentary unless they have been notified in advance. Largely this is to enable the Board to acknowledge those who wish to comment by their name and so names may be entered into the record. How far in advance your Board requires notification that someone would like to speak is up to the Board. Some Boards require 24-hour notification in order to get on the list of Public Comment speakers. Others have a sign-up sheet at the meeting where community members can list their names when they arrive. If this is something you plan to require, you should take steps to ensure that you are not excluding any groups of people. For example, if you have a hybrid meeting, but are only allowing public commentary via an at-meeting signup sheet, this can exclude anyone participating remotely. Ensure that there are equitable means for someone to request to make a comment. Otherwise, you are not truly getting your community’s perspective.
  • Termination of time – You will also want to set an expectation of when the Board will consider someone Out of Order. Generally speaking, any true threat of violence, inciting imminent lawless conduct, or being physically disruptive or threatening are reasonably considered actions in which a person can be called Out of Order. If you wish to put additional limitations on your public comments, I strongly recommend consulting your municipal counsel or an attorney on the Board to ensure that any limitations you place can be upheld by law. How your Board wishes to handle someone becoming Out of Order is also up to you, but many Boards will terminate the remainder of that person’s speaking time and/or ask that person to leave. *

Not a dialogue

While your Board may be meeting in view of the public, your Board meeting is not a meeting of the public. The Board is there to discuss their business in an open forum, not create a back-and-forth on that business in the moment. Public comment is an opportunity for your library’s community to provide input on a library’s policy or other decision within the Board’s purview, and for the span of time that the commentary period runs, this input goes one-way. During the public comment period, the job of the Board Chair (or designee) is to ensure that any participants in public comment are following the rules, but otherwise the chair should remain silent. If you’ve established that you want public commentary as a part of your meetings and someone (or multiple people) have taken the effort to attend the meeting and prepare their statement, as a Board, you need to ensure that you are following through on your end of the bargain and listening to what they have to say.

You are also within your rights to state in your policy, if you so choose, that you will not engage in dialogue. Some examples of this may include:

  • Public comments shall be confined to subject matters within your library’s jurisdiction, an item on the current agenda and/or an item that has appeared on an agenda over the last 60 days
  • Board members will listen to remarks, but will not engage in discussion, answer questions, or debate with a speaker
  • Board members may decide to address the matter with a vote by adding the matter to a future agenda with expected public notice

Many library Board members became so because they care about the library and the issues affecting libraries. This motivation can make following the “not a dialogue” part of the procedure particularly difficult to follow. But remember, consistency is one of the key ways a body earns public trust, so it is as important to follow this section of your policy as it is any other portions of the policy that may come more naturally.

Maintaining your authority

To keep public commentary as orderly as possible, the Board should maintain that they are the primary conduits for the meeting. Many Boards reiterate their public comment policy at the beginning of their meeting or at the beginning of the public comment period. This can keep confusion and expressions of “but I didn’t know” at a minimum. You are also well within your rights to mention in your policy any of the following, deciding whether or not they apply to your situation:

  • Speakers may only speak if they are recognized by the Chair.
  • Audience members are not permitted to interrupt recognized speakers
  • Policy may be subject to exception at the discretion of the Board (and/or Library Director if applicable)
  • Speakers will be recognized/scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis
  • Speakers may not give their comment time to other speakers to extend an individual’s time to comment

By and large it is the Board Chair, or presiding officer in the Chair’s absence, that will make these determinations and follow through on most of this policy. However, all members of the Board should be fully up to date on the current public comment policy, so as not to subvert the authority of the Chair or the Board and maintain consistency with the public’s expectations.

While the Board’s authority should be made apparent whenever possible, it is neither productive nor trust-building to be abrupt, curt or visibly irritated during the public comment period. The Chair and other Board members should be dispassionate and polite. Thanking the commenter for their time and opinion can go a long way to establishing a good relationship, even if the board and that commenter happen to disagree. Remember that there is a level of vulnerability to making a public comment and commenters may be inexperienced with the forum. Treating everyone well increases the comfort level of those participating in their local government, which can, in turn, encourage more participation. Being understanding adds a layer of trust which can maintain civility in future interactions, even when the subject matter is something that is subject to strong opinions.

Other channels for public feedback

A public comment period does not need to be the only way in which the public can interact with or express their opinions to a Board. The Board should have other methods that give members of the public the option to communicate with them, especially if they are elected to the Board. Not everyone is comfortable speaking in public for a variety of reasons, so there should be at least ways for the public to contact the Trustees via mail and/or emails. Many libraries are the official mailing address for the Board with any mail coming in given to the chair (or presiding officer) by the Library Director (or designee in the Director’s absence). Trustees may choose to have email addresses that are made available to the public, but they may also choose to have a single email address that is regularly checked and that anyone in the public can send correspondence to (ex. LibraryTrustees@emailsource.com). These should also be acknowledged at a meeting, though they are not part of the public comment period and do not need to be read aloud during the meeting. This is another way the Board shows their community that they are responsive to their needs and can build trust not just in the Board, but in the library overall.

As I’ve stated before, policies are at their best when they set clear expectations and follow through with those expectations at every meeting. This level of consistency and clarity builds public trust and ensures that everyone is treated fairly. Public commentary in particular can be a touchy subject, but having this policy in place encourages people to be respectful and understand their limits before choosing to participate in a meeting.

*Before setting any of the particular boundaries, I strongly recommend reading a summary of Barron Vs Kolenda (this one from the Boston Bar Association is a helpful summary though other reliable ones are available) and, as always, conferring with your municipal counsel to ensure that any limitations you set, actions you choose to take, or boundaries you enforce can be upheld by the law.