What Might a Future Recession Look Like for MA Libraries? *

In my last post, I walked you through my discovery of library usage (in terms of circulation and attendance) increasing during the Great Recession, with the Great Recession defined as the fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011 using Michael Mabe’s 2023 study. So, what can we do with that information? Given that this is a blog series where I try to help libraries fortify themselves, I’d like to use that information to extrapolate what could happen if we encounter another recession in near future and what that might mean in terms of our needs and services.

Let’s start with the basics of what we learned in my last post when I discovered that MA-specific data aligned reasonably well with the study I used as a model for my inquiry. To recap: Massachusetts libraries saw an average increase in circulation of 12.5% and an average increase in attendance of 32.4% during the Great Recession as compared to the 3 years before the recession. If those percentages were extrapolated to see a potential model for the future, what would that look like?*

Circulation

For the fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, the total average circulation activity for MA libraries was 176,330 items. This includes books, periodicals, eBooks, other nonprint items such as Library of Things, basically anything that was transferred from the library (physically or digitally) to the hands of a patron. This also includes interlibrary loans (ILLs; items exchanged between libraries). If we apply the percentage increase in circulation that occurred in MA during the Great Recession**, the total average circulation over the next 3 years would be 198,437 items, or a potential increase of 22,107 items in a year.

What does this look like in terms of library service?

The average total circulation number of 176,330 works out to the library circulating about 483 items per day. This assumes that the library is open 365 days a year, which as libraries are municipal departments, is virtually impossible. So let’s factor in the 12 state holidays that libraries will observe, plus the day after Thanksgiving, and an extra 2 days for libraries to be closed*** for snow/weather conditions, building issues (no electricity, flooding, extreme heat, construction, etc.) or other situations out of most people’s control that may necessitate a library not opening to its patrons that day. When including days where a library will not be open to patrons, this increases the daily circulation for a given library right now to be 504 items per day.

An increase of more than 22,000 items in a year works out to an extra 61 items each day. If we include the library being closed for 15 days as I did above to calculate the current numbers, that number tics up to 63 items circulating per day. So, adding the potential increase in daily circulation, libraries may result in circulating 567 items every day they are open in the event of a significant economic downturn.

Attendance

The other major metric Mabe’s study examined to indicate library usage is how many people visited the library. The average attendance at any given MA library over the course of a year using FY2022, 2023, and 2024 data was 69,471**** This includes anyone who walked into the library for any reason including but not limited to: picking up a hold, asking a question, using public computers or Wi-Fi, sitting and reading a periodical, seeking shelter from the elements, attending a program, etc. If we use the percentage increase in attendance that libraries experienced during the Great Recession to project a possible increase in attendance for the future, that number goes up to 91,983 over the course of a year. This is a potential annual increase of 22,512 library visitors each year.

What does this look like in terms of library service?

The average total of 69,471 visitors per year that libraries have most recently welcomed, works out to 190 people each day. If we factor in library closures (the same 15 days I used for calculating circs above) that number becomes 198 people visiting a library each day.

When you count the extra 22,512 people that an economic downturn may bring in, that is an extra 64 people per day coming into the library. Almost 92,000 people visiting over the course of a year works out to 252 people visiting the library every day. Again, factoring in time for libraries to be closed, that number increases to 263 people visiting the library over the course of a day, should we end up in a recession.

Are we prepared for that?

In order to answer this question, we need to look at several factors and each library is going to have to ask itself:

Do we have enough staff to accommodate these potential increases?
Will our building’s current condition accommodate the increase in foot traffic?
Is our internet (public computers, Wi-Fi) equipped to handle increased usage?
Do we receive ILL deliveries often enough if our circulation increases?
What infrastructure do we have that might be scalable to accommodate potential increases like this?

All of these questions will have at least one overarching question in common: Will we have the funding to help potentially more people? Every library in MA is different in terms of how well funded it is within its municipality but now may be a good time share this information with your closest library advocates (Trustees, Friends, Foundation members) to give them a framework of possibilities to work from.

In my next post, I’ll start digging into metrics from MA that weren’t considered in Mabe’s study, but we have the data for and can give us further insight into this thought experiment. I will use the same basic logic and framework from Mabe’s study to see what our past may be able to tell us about our future when it comes to funding and staffing.

* DISCLAIMER: This is a thought experiment to hopefully give libraries a framework from which to advocate for themselves using a foundation of past data. I am not a financial analyst, nor do I have any ability to predict the future. I do need to use the data available to me, however; which means I’m limited by what’s available from our library statistics. That data ends (for now) with FY2024 . Because of that, I can only really extrapolate what that might mean in terms of averages for FY2025, 2026 and 2027. This does NOT mean that there is any certainty about whether there will be an economic recession during those years. For more background on what prompted me going down this particular rabbit-hole, please see my previous post.

** Because I only have the information from the previous recession, that is the number I’m using to extrapolate. If we encounter another recession, I fully recognize that the percentage may be different and that using the same number indicates that circumstances will be the same in the future, which is unlikely. But this can give libraries a baseline of something to work with to anticipate change and create a nimble plan of action to adjust based on what actually happens, should a recession occur.

***Again, I’m working with averages here. Some libraries may not need to close for extenuating circumstances at all over the course of a year, some libraries may close more days.

~ Al Hayden, MBLC Library Advisory Specialist

Get to Know Your Founding Commissioners: Anna Eliot Ticknor

Anna Eliot Ticknor, MBLC Commissioner 1890-1896

How did Commissioner Ticknor champion libraries in Massachusetts?

“Her familiarity with the intellectual possibilities of the home and the best methods and means of stimulating and meeting them, her appreciation of the free public library as an educational force, together with her experimental knowledge of the practical results that can be accomplished by simple and direct methods, made her judgment of especial value in outlining and crystallizing the work of the commission.” (Meeting Minutes and Report of the Commission, 1896)

How did Anna Eliot Ticknor’s work challenge the cultural, social, or political norms of the early 1900s?

Anna Eliot Ticknor was passionate about educating women in a time when women faced many obstacles pursuing higher education and intellectual endeavors. “… she was desirous to gratify, if possible, the aspirations of the large number of women throughout the country who would fain obtain an education, and who had little, if any hope of obtaining it.” (Samuel Eliot, 1897)

By providing women with the opportunity to pursue education via correspondence courses, Ticknor empowered women by expanding their intellectual horizons and challenging prevailing gender norms that confined women’s roles to domestic spheres. Ticknor fostered a community of learning and intellectual growth that paved a path for the broader movement towards gender equality in education. In fact, within two years of founding the Society to Encourage Studies at Home, Smith and Wellesley Colleges would be established (Bergman, 2011).

She and Elizabeth Sohier Putnam, another founding Commissioner, were the first women appointed to a United States public commission when they were appointed to the Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission in 1890.

What personal experiences shaped Anna Eliot Ticknor’s tenure as a library Commissioner?

Ticknor was highly educated and believed it was her responsibility to share her advantages with others, with the free public library holding a pivotal role in adult education. Her Society to Encourage Studies at Home was “designed to draw on the intellectual attainments of Ticknor’s leisured and wealthy friends to further the education of women throughout the country…Ticknor and her friends wanted to give away what men had long refused to allow women to buy: a liberal education.” (Bergmann, 2001)

How does Anna Ticknor’s impact still resonate in today’s libraries, and what can we learn from her legacy?

Ticknor’s work laid the groundwork for modern distance learning programs – she and the Society are cited in some Library and Information Science textbooks – and emphasized the importance of accessible education for all.

Libraries today continue to draw inspiration from her legacy by offering diverse educational resources and learning opportunities, embracing her vision of inclusive and lifelong education. From her and the Society’s legacy, we can learn the value of adaptability and the importance of creating learning opportunities that transcend traditional boundaries, ensuring education is available to everyone regardless of circumstances.

The literary interests of Anna and her father, George, also inspired the founding of The Ticknor Society, an organization of book collectors, booksellers, librarians, historians, archivists, conservators, printers, publishers, writers, and all lovers and readers of books that “recognizes that both father and daughter were instrumental in making books widely accessible in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

An MBLC Favorite Quote about Commissioner Anna Eliot Ticknor:

“It will be seen that she was a teacher, an inspirer, a comforter and, in the best sense, a friend of many and many a lonely and baffled life.” (Samuel Eliot, 1897)

Who is today’s Anna Eliot Ticknor? Do you know a librarian that reminds you of Ticknor? The Anna Eliot Ticknor Award honors a Massachusetts librarian whose work has increased residents’ access to the wealth of resources held at libraries across the Commonwealth.

Submit a nomination for the anna eliot ticknor commmissioner award by october 1

Learn more about Anna Eliot Ticknor and her pioneering spirit below!

Anna Eliot Ticknor, An Education and Public Libraries Pioneer

By MBLC Preservation Specialist Jessica Branco Colati

Anna Eliot Ticknor (June 1, 1823–October 5, 1896), of Boston, served as a founding commissioner of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts from 1890 until her death in 1896. Ticknor was considered a “Boston Brahmin”, growing up in a prominent, well-traveled, highly-educated, and literary-minded family. She was an author and early proponent of distance learning, especially for women to continue their education while carrying out their wifely and motherly duties at home. She also gave voice to the role libraries could play in educating the public.

Anna was born in Boston in 1823 to parents George Ticknor, a Harvard professor of modern languages and one of the founders and early presidents of Boston Public Library. Her mother, Anna (Eliot) Ticknor, came from an extended family that included presidents of both Harvard and Trinity (CT) Colleges and poet and playwright T.S. Eliot. She regularly hosted her husband’s distinguished colleagues, literary figures including Charles Dickens and Henry David Thoreau, and other notable family friends, at the family’s Beacon Hill home or when traveling abroad.

Surrounded by books, artwork, academics, and authors from an early age, Anna wrote some volumes of her own, including a few articles, a biography of family friend, “Life of Joseph Green Cogswell as sketched in his letters”, and, in 1869, a travelogue for young(er) readers, “An American family in Paris; with fifty-eight illustrations of historical monuments and familiar scenes.”

The work that consumed most of her adult life was, however, Anna’s founding of the “Society to Encourage Studies at Home” in 1873. She filled many operational roles for the organization simultaneously, championing its work and recruiting many of her Boston high society friends and connections to join her in its efforts.

The Society is considered to be the first correspondence school in the United States, consisting of a network of women teaching women a formal course of study by mail. Her purpose in founding the Society was for “the improving the character, increasing the resources of the home” by making available “an enlightened modern curriculum; a lending library; and a warm correspondence between woman teacher and woman learner.”

Anna and the Society were true pioneers in American higher education for women, predating the founding of Smith College and Wellesley College by a few years. By 1896, the Society had remotely supported the continuing education of over 7000 students and engaged almost 200 instructors for its courses during its 23 years.

Anna was already 68 years old when she was appointed by Governor Brackett to be one of the first members of Massachusetts’ Free Public Library Commission. She was appointed to a one-year term to stagger the terms of the Commission’s board members, then reappointed for a full five-year term in 1891. She died on October 5, 1896, at her summer home in Newport, Rhode Island.

Learn more about Anna Eliot Ticknor and her pioneering spirit through the Q&A below.

Author’s Note: While most of the sources for our expanded profile of Commissioner Anna Eliot Ticknor can be found online or in the MBLC Archives (follow the links in the text above to dive deeper into Anna’s many experiences and accomplishments!), the records of the Society to Encourage Studies at Home are held by the Boston Public Library and are not fully digitized.

They are available to researchers by visiting BPL’s Archives and Special Collections or requesting materials be digitized for remote personal consultation.

The History of the MBLC is a new, recurring series of blog posts highlighting the people, organizations, initiatives, and events that have shaped the work of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and its impact on libraries across the Commonwealth since its founding in 1890. Posts are authored by Jessica Branco Colati, Preservation Specialist (in her role as agency archivist) and June Thammasnong, Communications Specialist, as well as other occasional authors. External links to primary and secondary sources accessible online are included in the blog posts. The first group of posts will highlight the founding Commissioners in the lead up to the agency’s 135th Anniversary.

MBLC Update – September 3, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

I’d like to share some remarkable news regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). First, after more than five months with little to no communication from the IMLS, in July funding reimbursements from IMLS began again with regularity. This may be because the end of the federal fiscal year is September 30,^,2025 and despite the efforts to defund IMLS as outlined in Executive Order 14238 this funding was previously approved by Congress for museums and libraries across the country. There are also several pending lawsuits regarding this action.

Right now, because we don’t know if IMLS will be funded for FY2026, the MBLC is treating reimbursements from IMLS as one-time funding. We’re mindful that we don’t want to add back databases or any service that depending on the outcome of the FY2026 federal budget, may have to be cut again.

However, last evening the FY2026 budget took a huge step in the right direction for IMLS. The House Appropriations released its version of the FY 2026 budget bill that includes $291.8 million for IMLS. In its version the Senate included $295 million for IMLS funding. This is a $3 million reduction from the previous year but it’s a major turnaround from the President’s budget which included $6 million to shutter the agency.

We still have a ways to go. The marked-up version of the bill goes to the full House next Tuesday and then we await the reconciliation of the House and Senate budgets. But this is promising news and we’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

Thank you to everyone who to the time over the past few months to contact Congress. It has made a difference.

Press Release: https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/committee-releases-fy26-labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related

Bill summary: https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fy26-labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies-subcommittee-summary.pdf

Bill summary (Democrat version): https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies-summary.pdf

Full bill: https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fy26-labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies-subcommittee-mark.pdf

Sincerely,

Maureen Amyot

Director, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

📰August 2025 Libraries in the News

Have a news story you’d like to share? Please email the link to MBLC Communications Specialist June Thammasnong (june.thammasnong@mass.gov), thank you!

[PDF] Libraries in the News – August 2025 Download

🗞️Local News

📄MBLC Funds Statewide eContent – MBLC Press Release (8/7/2025)

At its August board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved $500,000 in grants to Automated Networks to purchase eContent for the Library eBook and Audiobook (LEA) program. LEA gives Massachusetts residents access to eBooks, audiobooks, and more from 400 participating libraries from across the Commonwealth. This statewide system allows eContent to be shared in a similar way to physical materials, opening up access that was previously unavailable for eBooks and audiobooks. The LEA collection has grown 37% over the past three years and totals almost 1.5 million eBooks and Audiobooks.

Link to full MBLC Press Release

📄New library at 38 Avenue A in Turner Falls preferred over Carnegie Renovation – by Erin-Leigh Hoffman, Greenfield Recorder (8/15/2025) – This project is part of the MBLC’s Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program-

TURNERS FALLS — The property that once housed a Cumberland Farms and was later eyed for a mixed-use development may be starting a new chapter, this time as a library.

Link to full article from Greenfield Recorder

📄 Masters of their craft: Elizabeth Taber Library launches new makerspace – by Grace Ann Natanawan, Sippican Week (8/19/2025) – Elizabeth Tabor Library in Marion received an LSTA Creative Communities grant in 2024 to help support this project –

LUNENBURG — The Boston Bruins have teamed up with libraries across the state to encourage children and teens to keep reading over the summer.

The Lunenburg Public Library and the Thayer Memorial Library are two of just 12 public libraries selected to receive a special summer reading visit from Bruins’ mascot Blades.

Link to full article from Sippican Week

📄Where will Yarmouth build a new, modern library? Here are 5 possible sites. – by Susan Vaughn, Cape Cod Times (8/21/2025) – This project is part of the MBLC’s Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program –

South Yarmouth and West Yarmouth libraries are too small to serve the town, library officials say. Now, a new building is planned for both.

Link to full article from Cape Cod Times

📝 The Future is Unknowable, but the Past Can Help Us Prepare – by Al Hayden, MBLC Blog (8/25/2025)

Welcome back to another edition of Fortifying Your Library! While I remain committed to being a policy nerd and will continue to offer policy-based content that hopefully helps your libraries, there are other ways to fortify your library. I wanted to spend some time addressing a question that has been on my mind: what happens to public libraries during an economic recession? As you may suspect, what prompted this inquiry was the large quantity of media speculation as to whether or not the US is heading towards a recession.

Link to full post on the MBLC Blog

📄Letter to the Editor: Funding Cuts and the Revere Public Library – by The Revere Public Library Board of Trustees, Revere Journal (8/21/2025)

Many of you may not realize that your public library is funded in several ways: through the City of Revere budget, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), and the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS was recently defunded by Presidential Executive Order #14238 and this letter is about the impact on your public library of the loss of this agency and the funding it administered.

Link to full article from The Revere Journal

📄 Bruins Mascot to Celebrate Summer Reading at Local Libraries – by Cheryl A. Cuddahy, Sentinel & Enterprise (8/3/2025)

LUNENBURG — The Boston Bruins have teamed up with libraries across the state to encourage children and teens to keep reading over the summer.

The Lunenburg Public Library and the Thayer Memorial Library are two of just 12 public libraries selected to receive a special summer reading visit from Bruins’ mascot Blades.

Link to full article from Sentinel & Enterprise

📺 Bruins Mascot visits Wilks Library– by New Bedford Government Access (8/19/2025)

NEW BEDFORD — Boston Bruins mascot Blades visited the Wilks Library in New Bedford! New Bedford Cable Network captured all the fun here:

Link to full video from New Bedford Government Access

🗞️ National News

📄 How Libraries Became ‘First Responders’ for America’s Opportunity Gap – by Wilfred Chan, Carnegie Corporation of New York (8/25/2025)
Last year, the New York Public Library’s English classes were attended 200,000 times — and it still can’t keep up with demand.

Link to full article from Carnegie Corporation of New York

📄 Attorneys General Beseech R.I. Judge to Protect IMLS – by Nathalie op de Beek, Publishers Weekly (8/25/2025)
As the calendar ticks toward September 30 and the end of fiscal 2025, at which time U.S. legislators will determine FY 2026 appropriations for public institutions, 21 states’ attorneys general have asked the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island to enter a summary judgment in State of Rhode Island v. Trump. They seek a permanent injunction to keep the Institute of Museum and Library Services, along with the Minority Business Development Agency and Federal Conciliation and Remediation Service, fully staffed and operational.

Link to full article from Publisher’s Weekly

📄 More Details Emerge About IMLS Dismantling; Plaintiffs in RHODE ISLAND Lawsuit Seek Permanent Injunction – by Kelly Jensen, Book Riot (8/26/2025)
More details emerge in what happened during the IMLS takeover by DOGE and what might happen in the federal lawsuits against the agency’s dismantling.

Link to full article from Book Riot

📄 New ULC Analysis Shows Downtown Libraries Are the Anchors Cities Need – Urban Libraries Council (ULC) (8/27/2025)
Office attendance has yet to rebound, but central libraries are bringing people and energy back to city centers, as our new data shows–
Public libraries have long been at the heart of American cities, and the large central libraries that serve as the flagship of most systems are among our most vibrant public spaces. Whether historic architectural landmarks or modern works of art, they collectively represent over 215 million square feet and serve nearly a third of the U.S. population – the indoor public space of America, where all offerings are free of charge.

View ULC’s new data and visualization based on analysis above

Link to full intro blog on ULC Analysis

📄 Braille libraries offer community. What happens when funding cuts close them? – by Hannah Goeke, Christian Science Monitor (7/31/2025) – Includes an interview with Perkins Library Executive Director Kim Charlson-

Marci Carpenter reconnected with her love of reading through her fingertips. When her vision became more limited, learning braille gave her a new way to experience the world. She still remembers how the words of Robert Frost’s poems came alive again through soft bumps embossed on thick paper.

But it was the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in Seattle that gave her a place to connect.

Link to the full article from Christian Science Monitor

📄More and more books are being banned. SoCal libraries find a solution – by Annie Goodykoontz, Los Angeles Times (8/14/2025)

To combat book censorship, some Southern California public libraries, including Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego, are joining libraries nationwide to provide access to online library cards. Children as young as 13 can get a free e-card to access the libraries’ catalog of e-books and audiobooks, without parental permission and without any challenges they may face to get a book in their local library.

Link to full article from Los Angeles Times

📄 PLA celebrates Project Outcome success; transitions resources for free ongoing use – by American Library Association (ALA) Press Release (8/19/2025)

CHICAGO—The Public Library Association (PLA) today launched a suite of outcome measurement resources developed as part of the Project Outcome toolkit. The new webpages culminate a decade of work dedicated to sharing the impact of public library services and programs via simple surveys and an easy process to measure and analyze patron outcomes. The “Utilizing Outcome Measurement to Improve Library Services” webinar on August 28 will guide participants through the templates and tools.

Link to full press release from ALA

📄 At airport libraries, books fly off the shelves – by Hannah Simpson, The Washington Post (8/18/2025)

Airports all over the country have introduced book exchanges, to the delight of literary travelers.

Link to full article from The Washington Post

📄 Library of Congress acquires only known lyrics sketch of ‘Over the Rainbow’ – Chloe Veltman, NPR (8/25/2025)
The Library of Congress has acquired rare artifacts related to the beloved 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

The treasures include 35 musical manuscripts from composer Harold Arlen and lyricist E. Y. “Yip” Harburg’s creative output, including the first handwritten drafts of music and lyrics from some of the most well-known The Wizard of Oz songs, draft song lists and correspondence from the director of the film, Mervyn LeRoy.

Among the artifacts is the only lyric sketch for “Over the Rainbow” known to exist.

Link to full article from NPR

Related: 📄Want to See the Original Lyrics for ‘Over the Rainbow’? All You Need is a Library Card – Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine (8/27/2025). Link to full article from Smithsonian Magazine

📄 How Portlanders have expanded Little Free Library’s ‘take a back, leave a book’ – by Crystal Ligori, NPR (8/23/2025)
In Portland, Ore., people have gone beyond the trend of Little Free Libraries, creating all kinds of sidewalk installations to spark joy.

Link to listen and full transcript from NPR

o*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 – August 27, 2025

PDF of MBLC Service Update – August 2025 Download

🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on September 4th (Hybrid)
Contact: Rachel Masse

The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at the Holyoke Public Library.

📰 MBLC Funds Statewide eContent

Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely

📝NEW BLOG POST Fortifying Your Library: The Future is Unknowable, but the Past Can Help Us Prepare

Contact: Al Hayden

Welcome back to another edition of Fortifying Your Library! Let’s spend some time addressing a question that has been at the top of the mind for several months now: what happens to public libraries during an economic recession? To read the full post, visit the MBLC Blog.

🗓️Financial Report Closes on Friday, October 3rd

Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis

State Aid season continues! The FY26 Financial Report survey will close on Friday, October 3rd. Waiver applications are due on Friday, November 7th. Financial Report & Waiver workshops will be held this month. Sign up for the State Aid Listserv for updates and information. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the State Aid team if you have any questions or concerns. More information and dates can be found at at the MBLC website.

💬 State Aid + Financial Report Weekly Drop In Hours (Online)

Contact: Cate Merlin

Wednesdays in September at 9am – Zoom Link

In September, Wednesday State Aid Office Hours are now also Financial Report Drop In Hours- and they’re weekly at 9am! Make sure your budget, materials spending, and hours open fully meet State Aid requirements, and bring your Financial Report and/or Waiver questions, big and small. Registration is not required, and session and chats will not be recorded or saved. Use the same Zoom link each week.

🗓️September State Aid Financial Report Workshops (Online)

Contact: Jen Inglis, Cate Merlin

Tuesday, September 2nd at 10am – More Information & Registration

Wednesday, September 10th at 1pm – More Information & Registration

Friday, September 12th at 10am – More Information & Registration

Monday, September 15th at 1pm – More Information & Registration

Review the FY26 Financial Report and questions. Workshop information (meeting ID, etc.) will be emailed to registered participants as the date of the session approaches. Registration is required.

🗓️September Waiver Workshops (Online)

Contact: Cate Merlin, Jen Inglis

Wednesday, September 3rd at 10am – More Information & Registration

Tuesday, September 9th at 1pm – More Information & Registration

Thursday, September 18th at 10am – More Information & Registration

Review the FY26 Waiver application and requirements, required for libraries that have not met the FY26 Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR). Workshop information (meeting ID, etc.) will be emailed to registered participants as the date of the session approaches. Registration is required.

💻 Web Accessibility Office Hours

Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely, Kate Butler

Need help making your web content accessible? MBLC staff are here to help! Join our office hours every first Friday at 11AM or third Wednesday at 3PM.

Next First Friday Session: Friday, September 5 at 11AM – No registration needed

Next Third Wednesday Session: Wednesday, September 17 at 3PM – No registration needed

View all upcoming Web Accessibility programming under the Internet, Technology, and Access category on our calendar.

📄Accessible Word Documents

Contact: Jaccavrie McNeely, Kate Butler

Thursday, September 11 at 2PM – Registration required

Learn advanced Word skills to make your documents accessible! MBLC staff will be discussing and working through hands-on exercises for accessible headers, document templates, alt text, and more.

💬 State Aid + Financial Report Weekly Drop-in Hours (Online)

Contact: Cate Merlin

Wednesdays in September at 9AM – Zoom Link

For August and September, Wednesday State Aid Office Hours are now also Financial Report Drop-in Hours- and they’re weekly at 9am! Make sure your budget, materials spending, and hours open fully meet State Aid requirements, and bring your Financial Report and/or Waiver questions, big and small. Registration is not required, and session and chats will not be recorded or saved. Use the same Zoom link each week.

🤝Library Advisory Office Hours (Online)

Contact: Al Hayden

Monday, September 8 at 9AM – More Information & Zoom Link

Monday, September 22 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link

Open to all Directors, Trustees, Library Friends, and Foundation Members. They are designed to be an open-ended, safe space for questions and interaction among participants. Sessions will NOT be recorded, and chats will NOT be saved. Registration is not required; stop by anytime during the hour!

📅 ESOL Roundtable Discussion (Online)

Contact: Ally Dowds

Wednesday, September 24 at 10AM – Zoom Link & More Information

Connect with literacy coordinators and library staff to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build a supportive community. Whether you’re an experienced educator, a new ESOL coordinator, or a librarian developing services and collections, this roundtable provides a forum to come together for meaningful discussion and resource sharing. Bring your questions, challenges, and successes!

🤝So You Want to Be a Library Trustee? (Online)

Contact: Al Hayden

Wednesday, September 24 at 7PM – More Information & Registration

Do you want to do more to advocate on behalf of your local public library? Are you considering running to be a Library Trustee? Join Rob Favini, Head of Library Advisory & Development/Government Liaison and Al Hayden, Library Advisory Specialist from the MBLC as they provide information about what your library does for your community, the role of a Library Trustee, what responsibilities you’ll encounter should you become a successful candidate, and what supports and resources the MBLC offers to the library community and its advocates. This program is a basic primer designed for people who are considering becoming a Library Trustee in their community, though new Trustees may find valuable information and are welcome to attend as well. This session will be recorded and slides will be shared with all who register, regardless of whether or not they are able to attend live. To encourage frank questions and open discourse, the Q&A session will NOT be recorded.

🕙 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on October 9 (Hybrid)
Contact: Rachel Masse

The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Nevins Library, Methuen.

The Future is Unknowable, but the Past Can Help Us Prepare

Welcome back to another edition of Fortifying Your Library! While I remain committed to being a policy nerd and will continue to offer policy-based content that hopefully helps your libraries, there are other ways to fortify your library. I wanted to spend some time addressing a question that has been on my mind for several months and the results of that inquiry. The results of the inquiry, while not particularly surprising, were very informative, nonetheless. And I wanted to share that information with all of you in the hope that you will be able to use it to prepare your library.

The Question

The question I wanted to address was: what happens to public libraries during an economic recession? As you may suspect, what prompted this inquiry was the large quantity of media speculation as to whether or not the US is heading towards a recession. As it turns out, there are no universally agreed upon indicators that can predict an impending recession. The definition of an economic recession comes from the independently run National Bureau of Economic Research‘s Business Cycle Dating Committee, but they only define it once data has come through that shows that the US has met those markers for a specific period of time (i.e. they confirm the country is in a recession once a recession has already begun). Which confirms that we cannot know what the future holds. That said, the media talk of the possibility of an impending economic recession is still out there. If that happens, the lack of available funds can strain budgets and libraries should have a strategy of what to do in that case, whether the potential for a recession is weeks or years away.

Libraries and the Great Recession – The Data

We can’t predict the future, but we can look at trends from the past. Fortunately, there’s a peer-reviewed study on that! In 2023 Public Library Quarterly published an article by Michael R. Mabe titled, Impact of Great Recession on Library Use: Does a Negative Economy Impact Library Use? Mabe discovered that public library usage and circulation both increased by a statistically significant amount when the economy turns downward. I highly recommend reading the study in its entirety, as it provides background for the anecdotal evidence that has been a part of library lore for decades that prompted his inquiry in the first place and it describes how he arrived at his conclusions. But for context, here are the key takeaways that were most relevant to answer my question:

The study demonstrates that library usage increased in a statistically significant way during the Great Recession when compared to the years leading up to the Great Recession
Circulation increased 13.3% on average, nationally
Library attendance increased 26.8% on average, nationally
Public use of the library increased regardless of whether the library received proportional budgetary support

What about Massachusetts?

Mabe used national data to arrive at his conclusions, but we here in MA are lucky to have statistics that every library reports annually: ARIS (Annual Report Information Survey). Many thanks to all of you who have gone through the process of collecting and submitting these statistics. Much of the information I collected to replicate Mabe’s findings were from the ARIS. I used Mabe’s definitions of pre-recession and Great Recession, which is a pretty narrow scope. One could easily make an argument that the economic effects of the Great Recession lasted beyond 2011 and we could certainly get a fuller pre-recession picture looking back a bit further. However, to keep the parallels between my inquiry and the study’s statistically significant data, I’ve stuck to his definitions to make the best apples-to-apples comparison possible. Therefore, pre-recession is defined as the years 2006, 2007, and 2008; Great Recession is defined as the years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Yes, we do have MA library data going back to 2006! You can find all of the ARIS reports and data spreadsheets on the MBLC’s Library Statistics page. I compiled the statewide average for each year listed for each metric (circulation, attendance), then I (or, more accurately, the spreadsheet) calculated the average of the 3 pre-recession years and the 3 Great Recession years.

Here’s what I found out about Massachusetts:

There were generally about 370 libraries that submit the ARIS, so for each metric, I had about 370 data points to work with. Our usage pre- and during the Great Recession did, indeed increase over those times.

For the 3 pre-recession years, MA libraries averaged 156,815 total circulation (this includes circulations direct from each library AND inter-library loans [ILLs]) and had an average of 81,872 visitors each year.
For the 3 Great Recession years, MA Libraries averaged 176,475 total circulation (direct and ILL) and had an average of 108,403 visitors each year.

Which means that in Massachusetts libraries:

Circulation increased 12.5% during the Great Recession
Attendance increased 32.4% during the Great Recession

By comparison, these numbers are pretty close to the national average of 13.3% increase in circulation and 26.8% increase in attendance that Mabe found in his study.

What does this mean?

My conclusion from this MA-specific information is that I’m comfortable enough with the proximity of our data to the national data that I would consider* this information statistically significant as well. Which also means that we now have data to indicate that in a time of economic downturn, MA residents relied more on their libraries.

I also looked at one of the other points that Mabe took into consideration about library usage, which was not related to the budgetary support the library received. You can find the data I used for MA by using the municipal pie. Library funding increased between pre- and Great Recession by 4.37%. This percentage is clearly not equivalent to the increases MA libraries saw in usage. Another interesting point that came out of the municipal pie was that pre-recession, the percentage of their municipality’s General Fund that went to libraries averaged 1.30%. The average percentage of the General Fund that went to libraries during the Great Recession was 1.28%, so while libraries got a modest increase in funding from their municipalities in terms of dollar amounts, they did not get as high a percentage of the overall funds available from their municipality during the economic downturn, despite library usage increasing.

Great? Now what?

While the future is still unknowable, we can look back to where we’ve been, and where we’ve been is an increase in library usage when the economy declines. Whether or not we are immediately headed for another recession, I’d like to posit that we can extrapolate our numbers of the past and see what the potential could be for future library usage if patterns stay the same. Which is precisely what I’ll be exploring in my next post…

* For clarity, the years I define for MA are fiscal years because that is how our data is collected. Mabe did not specify whether or not he was using fiscal years for his study.

** Full disclosure, anything I may have learned in my college statistics classes promptly fell out of my head the moment I finished the finals.

~ Al Hayden, MBLC Library Advisory Specialist

Data Collections through Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

Contact: MBLC State Aid Specialist Jen Inglis, MBLC Head of State Programs Cate Merlin

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) works with State Data Coordinators in all 50 states and U.S. territories to collect information about libraries.

In Massachusetts, we collect the data we report to IMLS through the Annual Report of Information Statistics (ARIS).

IMLS also works with an independent data research company to ensure overall data accuracy, reliability, and consistency. The changes we are implementing now are a result of research that began four years ago.

They are completely unrelated to the Trump Administration.

Here’s how the IMLS data collection system works. Research about the data is conducted by an independent research company. Results and recommendations are brought forward to State Data Coordinators and Chief Officers of State Library Associations who then vote on any potential changes. Questions being added and/or removed every year is standard practice.

The changes below were voted on in 2023.

The MBLC made the decision to make the changes in phases to allow for a smooth transition, training, and full implementation.

Below is detail of what was added and what was removed for IMLS reporting for FY2026.

Holdings Questions Removed
E-Holdings:
H5	E-books: Adult
H6	Downloadable audio: Adult
H7	Downloadable video: Adult
H16	E-books: Young Adult
H17	Downloadable audio: Young Adult
H18	Downloadable video: Young Adult
H27	E-books: Children’s
H28	Downloadable audio: Children’s
H29	Downloadable video: Children’s
Subscriptions:
H48	Electronic serial subscriptions
H49	Local research database & online learning platform subscription
Number of databases:
H100	Network databases & online learning platforms
H101	Local databases & online learning platforms
H102	State databases & online learning platforms
Circulation Questions Removed
Usage of databases & online learning platforms:
C35		Usage of local databases & online learning platforms
C35		Usage of network databases & online learning platforms
C36		Usage of state-wide databases & online learning platforms
Circulation Questions Added
new C34		E-serials circulation: Adult
new C35		E-serials circulation: Young Adult
		E-serials circulation: Children’s

It is important to note that there are local databases that libraries purchase for use by their own local patrons and there are statewide databases that the MBLC and Massachusetts Library System (MLS) purchase for use by any person who lives, works or studies in Massachusetts. LOCAL database stats will no longer be collected. The MBLC will still collect data on statewide database usage that references the current and historical data collection hosted on the MLS website (https://guides.masslibsystem.org/databases/statistics)

IMLS as an agency has been affected by the Trump Administration. On March 14, 2025 President Trump signed Executive Order 14238 which eliminates the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” IMLS is the single largest source of critical federal funding for libraries. The MBLC receives $3.6 million from IMLS.

Due to the federal uncertainty caused by this executive order, the MBLC made several rounds of cuts unrelated to data collection:
April cuts
May cuts

Regardless of the fate of the IMLS, the MBLC will continue its annual data collection via the Annual Report of Information Statistics (ARIS) and Financial Report surveys. Completion of these surveys remains a requirement for the State Aid to Public Libraries program, and statewide data collection will become even more critical to Massachusetts libraries if national data collection ceases.

A note: For IMLS data, these are the questions added/removed last year—based on the 2023 vote.

Changes to the FY25 ARIS Questions
Auto Renewals Added
AU1	Did your library offer automatic renewal for any physical materials during the reporting period?
Electronic Holdings/Materials Questions Added
Electronic Books:
EH1		Did the library provide access to e-books purchased solely by the library?
EH2		Did the library provide access to ebooks purchased via a consortium/network?
EH3		Did the library provide access to e-books provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity?
Electronic Serials
EH4		Did the library provide access to e-serials purchased solely by the library?
EH5		Did the library provide access to e-serials purchased via a consortium/network?
EH6		Did the library provide access to e-serials provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no minimum cost to the administrative entity?
Electronic Audio:
EH7		Did the library provide access to e-audio purchased solely by the library?
EH8		Did the library provide access to e-audio purchased via a consortium/network?
EH9		Did the library provide access to e-audio provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity?
Electronic Video:
EH10		Did the library provide access to e-video purchased solely by the library?
EH11		Did the library provide access to e-video purchased via a consortium/network?
EH12		Did the library provide access to e-video provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity?
Research Databases:
EH13		Did the library provide access to research databases purchased solely by the library?
EH14		Did the library provide access to research databases purchased via a consortium/network?
EH15		Did the library provide access to research databases provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity?
Online Learning Platforms:
EH16		Did the library provide access to online learning platforms purchased solely by the library?
EH17		Did the library provide access to online learning platforms purchased via a consortium/network?
EH18		Did the library provide access to online learning platforms provided by the state library agency or another state agency at no or minimal cost to the administrative entity?

In the ARIS, the MBLC does include questions that are not for IMLS. They are based on local interest and need.

MBLC Update – August 1

Good afternoon,

There are two IMLS related happenings this week: The first is that the federal House budget markup has been pushed back, which means there is still time to contact legislators about IMLS funding.

In the federal budget framework that was recently passed, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (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.

This article on BookRiot has valuable information about the timeline, process, and who to contact. From Book Riot article: “Contacting the members of the Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee is not inappropriate. Be frank about why you are contacting them (i.e., their role on this particular committee) and be aware that you will likely not hear a response from them as they prioritize their own constituents. But before you reach out to members of the Subcommittee, reach out to your own Representative and urge them to demand their colleagues include restoration of IMLS funding in their markup.”

The second is reported from Education Week and seems to indicate that advocacy efforts are paying off: Senators—Including Republicans—Reject All of Trump’s Proposed Education Cuts. The article talks mainly about the Department of Education, but does mention IMLS, “The Senate version of the budget differs on nearly all the priorities Trump laid out. In addition to all the education-specific funding allocations, the bill includes funding for several programs and agencies the Trump administration has already moved to unravel, including AmeriCorps and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.”

Thank you for your advocacy on IMLS funding. Your efforts are important and are working!

Sincerely,

Maureen Amyot, Director

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioenrs

📰 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 2025 Download

🗞️ 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

📄 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 25^th 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 2025 Download

🕙 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 15^th 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

💻 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

🗨️ 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

🕙 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 4^th, 2025, at the Holyoke Public Library.