Collection Development Policies 

Welcome back to our blog series helping libraries strengthen and protect themselves. The last post talked about policy in general. This and the next several posts will be offering recommendations for specific policies that, if you haven’t updated them within the last 2 years, you should be prioritizing their review. 

What makes a strong collection development policy?

The first policy that any library should make sure is strong, recent, and clear is their collection development policy. This policy explains to any interested member of the public the reasoning behind why your library chooses the items that go into your collection. It provides the guideposts by which library staff makes their decisions about what goes into a library collection. It is critical in helping the public understand that books don’t appear on the shelves by magic; they are not chosen blindly or at random and the amount of work and professional input that goes into managing a library’s collection is substantial. A strong collection development policy focuses on key distinctions that make libraries and librarians uniquely qualified to make materials choices:  

  • Professional training – make sure your policy clarifies that those making your collection development decisions are trained professionals. A Librarian with an MLIS will have had collection development training as part of their professional degree. If you have paraprofessionals making collection decisions, make sure they have received training so they understand the basic principles of collection development and understand prioritizing the needs of the community over personal preferences.  
A computer monitor displays library course content on a desk in a stock image, promoting collection development. The monitor shows "Basic Library Techniques: Collection Development and Management Part 1."

The Massachusetts Library System has just deployed a Collection Management course as part of their Basic Library Techniques learning modules. It provides solid understanding of what goes into collection development and management. Should this not fit your needs, there are several additional online options to make sure your staff are up to date on their skills. Feel free to reach out for some additional suggestions.

  • Professional review sources – Booklist, Library Journal, School Library Journal, are all professionally vetted review sources that librarians have relied upon and trusted for years. Collection decisions based on reviews by these professional journals (and select others, including but not limited to Horn Book, Publisher’s Weekly, etc.) are the primary means by which to make informed decision. Specify that you do NOT make collection decisions based on resources that are not widely professionally accepted. 
     For example: Common Sense Media is not a collection development tool, though it and other similar resources may be helpful readers' advisory tools to help patrons find material that are relevant to them. This recognizes that, while librarians do not have the time to personally read every book that goes in the collection, they are making those choices in good faith based on industry and professional standards. 
  • Weeding as part of professional collection duties – Weeding is a natural part of the collection cycle, but unexpected, large weeding projects can erode public trust. Community members are not library professionals and often don’t understand that weeding is not only a normal part of library operations, but an essential one to keep collections relevant, updated and circulating. Be clear about your criteria for weeding and emphasize that it is part of your staff’s expertise as collection managers and well within the scope of professional duties to determine whether or not a book warrants a place in the library’s collection. Having a part of your collection development policy dedicated to CREW/MUSTIE guidelines reminds your staff and your patrons that weeding is not an arbitrary process. Give an approximate timeline of how often or under what circumstances your staff will evaluate what’s in their collections.  
  • Professional determinations of sections – It is generally worthwhile to include the sections you have in your library (adult, children, teen, media, library of things, audiobooks, large print, etc.). It will also be worthwhile to note in writing that the sections are not limited to any particular age group and are arranged to help make library materials as easy to find as possible. The responsibility of material relevance lies with the individual, or with a caregiver for their own child(ren). The section in which an item resides is not designed to determine the audience for that item. If your library makes use of stickers to highlight genres or for other wayfinding purposes, you may want to mention this as well, noting that the sticker is a tool to help match relevant material with its reader and is not a restrictive guideline.  
  • Professional determinations of relevance – The professional review sources like those mentioned above give approximate age ranges that the materials are intended for. It is up to the professional librarians to determine relevance from there; relevance for the collection, relevance for the community and relevance for individuals who may be interested in the topic. Your collection development policy is a great opportunity to remind people of your training which makes these types of relevance determinations as a matter of course. You would likely not give Erik Larson’s Dead Wake to a 3rd grader doing a poster presentation on the Lusitania. You may, however, give an adult a fiction book whose audience is primarily teens because the book has all of the tropes, action, and/or themes that reader enjoys. You may also give a teen a picture book for a project because it has images that are captivating, rare, or may describe concepts in a way that can help describe a topic to other people, regardless of the teen’s mastery of the topic. The possibilities are endless, so I don’t recommend trying to get specific in your policy. It may be worth your while, however, to describe how books end up in certain sections to help patrons find materials and note that those sections may be browsed by anyone who finds the topic relevant.  
  • Inclusivity as a professional standard – Most collection development policies state that they strive to be representative of all people in their community. The broadness of this statement can feel all-encompassing or inclusive, but in reality, is vague enough to be difficult to define. Consider defining the communities, identities and groups you want to ensure are represented in your library. * This list does not have to be exhaustive; “including but not limited to” can be a powerful phrase. Specifically naming communities you know are marginalized or underrepresented demonstrates your commitment to ensuring representation in your collections and makes purposefully excluding those named communities against library policy. Highlighting and strengthening your commitment to vulnerable communities has an additional benefit of being solid ground for display themes. When you outline these specifics, know that you will be backed up by State Law Chapter 78, Section 33 which states that public library staff develop collections that reflect the breadth of human experience, which is both diverse and interconnected. There are several Massachusetts organizations which agree upon this principle. 

Community Input

Your library’s collection should reflect perspectives that you find in your community, perspectives that may broaden your community’s horizons, and be able to anticipate their needs. Consider having a method for community members to communicate to you items they would like to see in your collection outlined in your policy. It is an opportunity to find out what your community may be interested in. You are under no obligation to put every item that someone from the community suggests into the collection. Suggestions must still follow your collection development policy. Outlining those expectations directly in your policy allows your community members to voice their opinions while simultaneously setting boundaries that trained library professionals are the ones who make the final decisions on what the library puts on its shelves.  

Some additional questions to consider when thinking about community input include:  

  • What qualifies as a community member – A resident? A library card holder? Will you have a community member identify themselves as such?  
  • How will you address local authors in your policy?  
  • How will you address unsolicited donations, particularly those where patrons may expect to see those donations on-shelf?  
  • What timeline will you give for a response (if any) to any community collection request?  

* A last note about collection development policies is that they should always have some type of request for reconsideration as part of its policy. This is a hugely important step in protecting intellectual freedom for all, and as such, deserves its own blog post. I’ll break down some considerations to keep the process of a challenge as straightforward as possible in the next installment. 

 

Protecting You, Your Staff and Your Patrons

Welcome to the first in a series of posts designed to help you fortify your library to protect you, your staff, and your patrons. A library is at its strongest when there are clear, unambiguous expectations for everyone to follow and one of the best ways to implement these expectations is through policy.   

Good policies reduce ambiguity and create stability for you, your staff, and your patrons. Solid, consistently applied policies build a foundation of trust and accountability which goes a long way to keep the library from undue scrutiny. When you are a consistent, trustworthy institution (as we know libraries are) you can dispel appearances of bias or arbitrariness, making one hurdle towards support and funding easier to clear.  

Make Sure Your Library’s Policies are Thorough

Policy should be a primary focus of Trustee Boards and Library Directors, who should work together to create the strongest policies possible. The Director will inform the Board with the boots-on-the-ground input about library operations. The Board will offer an outside perspective, different skill sets, and, occasionally expertise (depending on what a Board member does for their day job) and ideally, implement a schedule for reviewing and updating the policies. Make sure your policies have been updated within the last 2 years. If you have a lot of policies that need updating, work together to put a schedule together and consider prioritizing these:  

  • Collection Development *including a request for reconsideration (RfR) process* 
  • Patron Behavior/ Patron Rights and Responsibilities/ Library Use
  • Programming (including a RfR) 
  • Crisis Communication (with scripts)
  • Meeting Room Use 
  • Circulation 
  • Social Media 

Guidelines for Establishing Library Policies

When you are looking through your policies, here are a few general guidelines to keep in mind that can apply to all of them:  

Think in terms of what you can allow
Libraries exist to provide access. A list of restrictions will never be comprehensive enough to cover all possible infractions and only serves to keep your library from being a welcoming space. Setting up expectations and boundaries go a long way to creating a mutual understanding of not just what cannot be done in your library, but what can be done there as well. 

Use plain, clear language
Your policy binder should be a regularly consulted, guiding force in your library. Be as clear and concise as you can so that frontline staff can easily refer to and explain your library’s policies to anyone using your library in a way that everyone can understand.  

Take advantage of your resources
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Many a solid policy has been made by taking the most relevant and useful pieces of policies from other libraries and putting them to use in your library. The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) has an extensive collection of library policies for you to use as a starting point. Take a look at other libraries in the state with similar populations, sizes or town governance for ideas as well. Never hesitate to reach out to the MBLC for assistance!   

Consistency is key
Exceptional customer service is a hallmark of standard library operations here in Massachusetts; staff get to know patrons and are able to tailor services accordingly. This should always be our priority, but we need to make sure that our policies are being applied consistently. Your newcomers or occasional users should have no less consideration than your frequent flyers. This is one consideration that can protect you and your staff the most. If you can’t apply your policy to every single person who walks through your doors, you need to revisit it. Otherwise, your policy won’t be able to withstand scrutiny and you, and your staff will lose the credibility and protections your policy is there to provide.  

Think of your staff
Will your staff be able to enforce all of the policies you’re updating? Do your boots-on-the-ground people feel the policies are reasonable? A bit of feedback, especially for policies that are new or heavily revised can go a long way to helping your staff be consistent when the polices are approved by the Board. 

Consider who you’re not reaching (yet)
Every library has groups of patrons that are underrepresented in the library’s services. If you are weaving in concepts of inclusion; taking into account different cultures, abilities and perspectives; working to ensure that all community types are welcome in your library directly into every policy, then your policies will be more accessible to everyone who comes through your doors. The more accessible they are, the easier they will be to understand, enforce and apply consistently. 

Have your drafted policies reviewed by an attorney
Most cities and towns have a solicitor they use for advice. Given that most MA libraries are town departments, you should avail yourself of their services for advice on your policies. An attorney comes with a knowledge of recent case law and what is enforceable. Your municipality should appreciate your efforts. Any initial investment in reviewing your policies will provide long-term protection and cost-savings for your municipality overall.  

Train Staff and Review Policies Regularly

As much as we would love it to be the case, policy is never a one-and-done situation. Make sure you’re devoting time to remind and train everyone on your staff throughout the year. Make sure there is a digital copy of the policy binder that all staff can access, give your policies dedicated space on your library’s website, and make sure there is at least one full, printed copy of the policy binder at every service point. (Bonus points if you have printed out extra copies of policies that may frequently come up, so your staff is ready to give a copy to patrons.)  

If a policy no longer works for you, you have the right to change it. You do not have to wait until the policy is up for its next review to make tweaks. If you or your staff are finding a policy difficult to follow or enforce, or if you are finding that a policy cannot be applied equitably for all library users, work in changes that make more sense and get the changes on your next Board agenda.  

Most people did not get their MLIS in hopes that they would be able to craft sound library policy one day. However, getting your policies in order will help you and your staff do the other important work of librarianship more confidently and with less stress. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the MBLC for assistance on policy considerations or helping Boards of Trustees get up to speed with needed policy changes. 

Survey Results: Library Services for Justice-Impacted Individuals

To better understand library services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, Ally Dowds, Consultant to Special Populations at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, recently conducted a survey of public, school, academic, and special libraries. Of the 48 respondents, 9 currently provide outreach services to incarcerated individuals and 4 support reentry efforts in their communities. “The results confirm that libraries want to do more to provide services, but they need support, staffing and funding to do so,” said Ms. Dowds. Many libraries stated that they simply “don’t know where to begin.” Libraries also reported needing better connection to community partners and access to continuing education to prepare staff. The survey is the first step in the MBLC’s ongoing efforts to support libraries as they provide services to incarcerated people and reentry services or support for returning citizens at libraries.

Overview

General:
• 48 Respondents
• 40 Public Libraries

Outreach:
• 9 currently provide outreach to incarcerated individuals
• Blend of book donations, legal support and comprehensive services

Outreach Needs:
• Continuing Education and Staffing were primary needs of those currently providing outreach services
• New outreach – 29 responded “Where do I begin?”; 25 needed connection to a partnership. Continuing education also a big factor

Reentry:
• 4 libraries currently provide reentry services or support returning citizens at the library
• 37 libraries reported they do not

Reentry Needs:
• 24 reported needing more information
• 26 reported “Where do I begin?”
• 23 reported needing access to community partners
• Continuing education, community partnerships were top responses

Survey Responses

Survey question "Please select your type of library" with responses 40 public, 1 school, 1 academic, 6 special. The special libraries are all law libraries.
Survey question "Does your library currently provide outreach services to a local jail, prison, or youth detention center?" with responses 9 yes, 38 no, and 1 other

Type of outreach reported 

  • Book donations and access to book sale items 
  • Institutional library card for staff to reserve and check out items to bring back to facility 
  • Outreach visits to facilities to give book talks, book groups, technology and art programming, and occasional author talks 
  • Greenfield Community College offers courses and library services at Franklin County House of Corrections 
  • Legal reference question support 

    *”Yes” respondents were (1) juvenile detention center, (5) county jails or House of Corrections, (3) state prisons. 
Survey question "If yes, does your library need additional support?" with responses 1 funding, 4 staffing, 6 continuing education, 2 other.
Survey question "If your library provides outreach services to incarcerated individuals, do you collect data (statistical or anecdotal) to show the impact or efficacy of your services?" with responses 4 yes, 8 no.
Survey question "Would your library be interested in partnering with a local jail, prison, or a youth detention center to provide supportive library services to individuals experiencing incarceration?" with responses 6 already do, 13 yes, 13 maybe, 16 need more information.
Survey question "If yes, or considering, outreach to incarcerated individuals, what does your library need?" with responses 18 continuing education, 25 partnership or connection to institution, 15 funding, 29 where do I begin?, 5 other.

“Other” response: 

  • More staff 
  • Method of delivery of materials to institution 
  • Loss prevention around materials 
  • Inactive library cards 
Survey question "Does your library currently provide services, resources or programs for returning citizens or reentry support?" with responses 4 yes, 37 no, 7 other.

Types of re-entry support: 

  • Re-entry fairs and Re-entry Center partnerships/drop-in services 
  • Legal support 
  • Internet access 
  • Digital literacy and tech support around social service applications (ie, Registry of Motor Vehicles, housing)
  • CORI-sealing workshops 
Survey question "If yes, does your library need additional support?" with responses 4 funding, 4 staffing, 8 continuing education, 8 community partners.
Survey question "If your library provides reentry services to returning citizens, do you collect data (statistical or anecdotal) to show the impact or efficacy of your services?" with responses 1 yes, 6 no.
Survey question "Would your library be interested in providing reentry support services to returning citizens?" with responses 2 already do, 16 yes, 6 maybe, 24 need more information.
Survey question "If yes, or considering, reentry support services at your library, what does your library need?" with responses 20 continuing education, 23 community partners, 16 funding, 26 where do I begin?, 4 other.
Survey question "Does your library have a librarian that could or does provide outreach in the community?" with responses 27 yes, 7 no, 11 would like to, 3 developing a new position.

If yes, who?

  • Admin (Director/Assistant Director): 5 
  • Adult Services: 5 
  • All departments: 5 
  • Outreach Librarian: 4 
  • Youth Services: 5 
  • Other: 3 

If no, reasons? 

  • Funding, funding, funding 
  • Time 
  • Staffing 
  • Development of new position  
  • Community/administrative support, funding, continuing education, blueprint for how to create position 
  • Need community input, interest and prioritization 
  • Justification and buy-in to bring library services beyond library walls  

Additional Comments: 

  • Barriers to library card signups such as ID requirements, lost materials, old charges, etc. 
  • Collaboration with initiatives such as the Prison Book Program or Prison Library Support Network 
  • Map or directory of youth detention centers, points of contact for carceral facilities  
  • Library programs/support to expunge records 
  • Continuing education on topics such as outreach partnerships (establishing, maintaining), library services to incarcerated individuals  
  • Library to library collaboration to share outreach responsibilities, alleviate burden on staffing and funding, etc.   

“I would like to see social work and other services available right here in the library…” 

“We would be interested in learning more…” 

“A huge barrier is finding prisons and jails with libraries [and] staff tasked to manage them.” 

“I…believe that helping people who are incarcerated is incredibly important and would like to see our library organization do more…” 

“… be a known ally [for incarcerated youth]…” 

“…extremely important work… I’m grateful for all libraries that are providing this for incarcerated individuals… potential to have life-changing outcomes…” 

“…[I]t’s important for libraries to provide more than just materials to incarcerated patrons…” 

Networks Tackle Cybersecurity with MBLC State Grants

Identity theft, ransomware attacks, phishing and other types of cyber-risks are dangers that have become part of our daily existence, both as library workers and digital citizens.  In response, the websites we use now require multi-step logins, also known as multi-factor authentication or MFA.  Changes are even more striking in the workplace. Many of us log into staff applications via a VPN, or virtual private network, involving multiple steps and a dedicated phone. While our systems providers try to streamline our workflows, our computers and work phones are locked down, requiring more work simply to begin work.  Simple, shared passwords are a thing of the past. Data backup and recovery strategies are important for anyone using the internet, even casual home users.

Two years ago, news of large-scale cyberattacks exploded in the national media. The Colonial Pipeline attack in May of 2021 stood out in particular.  In July of 2021, I was made aware of some new guidance generated by New York State on ransomware attack prevention and response.  I myself had just become a victim of a ransomware attack at home, through a security hole in my backup software; the irony did not escape me. My music files were locked up and held for ransom.  At that time, I asked the nine automated resource sharing networks whether they were prepared. Were they confident with their cybersecurity posture? Were they on top of protecting core library services and patron data? Did they have the ability to quickly recover should they experience an attack?  Should all the networks, possibly with help from the MBLC, work individually or together to improve network resilience in the face of seemingly inevitable cyberattacks?

Three weeks later, on August 25th, 2021, the Boston Public Library (BPL) was hit by a ransomware attack which brought the BPL and Metro Boston Library Network systems down for a full week.  David Leonard, the President of the BPL was kind enough to meet with network administrators a few weeks later to share lessons learned — to describe what had happened, how it might have happened, how the BPL had recovered, and what step the library was taking to protect itself in future.

MBLC Awards State Cybersecurity Grants

The BPL attack showed how broadly disruptive a cyberattack can be on library services.  Networks provide the mission critical, core business functions on which every library operates.  When an attack occurs, patron records, the catalog and circulation system all become unavailable.  Ancillary systems, email, websites, access to electronic resources may all be affected.

The MBLC decided to offer a cybersecurity grant opportunity of up to $25,000 per network using state funds from account 7000-9506, Library Technology and Resource Sharing.  In total, we awarded $181,093 to eight networks.   The program ran from May 2022 through June 2023.

Each network used grant funds to address its own priorities as each was in a different place in its thinking, planning and overall preparedness.  To provide an overall framework, MBLC asked networks to categorize their activities according to the four goals laid out in the Minimum Baseline of Cybersecurity for Municipalities from MassCyberCenter. Though designed for cities and towns, the framework proved equally well suited for a common perspective on network grant activities.

The four goals are:

  1. Trained and Cyber-Secure Employees
  2. Improved Threat Sharing
  3. Cyber Incident Response Planning
  4. Secure Technology Environment and Best Practices

Not surprisingly, all eight participating addressed Goal 4. Providing technology is a network’s bread and butter. Four networks also identified staff training, and one network focused on response planning.

Minimum Baseline GoalsNetwork
Trained and Cyber-Secure EmployeesCW MARS, FLO, MVLC, SAILS
Improved Threat Sharing 
Cyber Incident Response PlanningSAILS
Secure Technology Environment and Best PracticesCLAMS, CW MARS, FLO, MBLN, MVLC, NOBLE, OCLN, SAILS

Staff Training

It’s almost a truism that human beings are the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. Therefore, thorough training is essential. Besides a series of instructional sessions or webinars, training often includes a series of phishing tests. A security vendor will send out phishing emails or smishing texts (phishing via SMS) to see whether staff recognize the malicious messages or instead, open the message or message attachment, actions that might in the real world have led to a damaging security breach.  FLO reports that their “phish-prone percentage” came down to 7.8% from a 50% mark (half of FLO staff) at the beginning of the program, and that since January 2023 no FLO staff member has clicked on a phishing email at all, easily surpassing FLO’s objective of 5% originally set out in their grant application.

MVLC experimented with a suite of free security training tools to gauge their effectiveness. Having obtained encouraging results in participation, they will consider making this part of their annual training regime in future.

Cyber Incident Response Planning

SAILS undertook formal planning as part of the grant.  SAILS’ incident response plan, when complete, will cover the steps to be taken should there be a security breach. It will include who will be notified: the network attorney, the system vendor(s), the cybersecurity insurance provider, telecommunications support provider, the network internet service provider, and, of course, member libraries.

The plan will address the following six phases:   preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.

SAILS recognizes the importance of sharing the plan with member libraries. An incident can start at the library.

The Boston Public Library /MBLN network, which had suffered that significant cybersecurity attack in 2021, hired a consultant to develop a security roadmap to improve its overall security posture. Preliminary direction will have been guided by vulnerability scan and penetration testing. BPL also intends to hire a full-time Cybersecurity Analyst.

Improved Threat Sharing

No network explicitly identified threat sharing as a grant goal.  However, as part of incident response planning, networks recognize that registering with regional and national threat resource centers, such as MS-ISAC, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and the New England regional office of CISA, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, is critical.  Networks will proactively hear about threats that might affect them and will know whom to inform should an attack happen to them.  Networks will be better prepared to share threat information with each other in a timely fashion.

Secure Technology Environment and Best Practices

The majority of grant-related work focused on ensuring that networks’ core systems, backups, were secure, and that shared work environments being accessed by both central site staff and library staff were controlled by technologies, policies and procedures to minimize risk.

The Library System Hosting Environment

Two networks, CW MARS and NOBLE, had locally hosted library system servers. Recently, either as part of this grant, or slightly before, both networks had moved their servers into a Google Cloud environment under the management of Mobius Open-Source Solutions (MOSS).  Large-scale cloud hosts such as provided by Google and Mobius, bring assurances of a much more secure environment than any local installation could manage.  This includes physical security, system and software patching, vulnerability testing, standards, access controls, authentication, and backup and restore options.

Through a consultant, NOBLE audited the security of their servers’ new home, and especially the cloud-hosted data backups.  NOBLE’s consultant provided a series of recommendations back to Mobius that should benefit not only NOBLE and CW MARS, but other similarly situated library systems as well. NOBLE also now takes more frequent system backups, housing them in a separate location, a more secure approach.

CLAMS took a hard look at the hosting environment for their new Koha/Aspen Discovery library system from Bywater Systems. Bywater has tested incident response and business continuity plans.  Bywater had several recommendations for CLAMS, including the use of a reverse proxy server, regular vulnerability scans, an intrusion detection and prevention system, and IP access control for all Koha admin interfaces.

Equipment Replacement

OCLN and NOBLE replaced older routers in members libraries with state-of-the-art advanced firewalls that included intrusion prevention features. Intrusion prevention systems proactively check for real-time threats or attacks and take action to stop the activity.  The new routers will better protect not only the network, but also local library LANs, attached equipment and data.

The change to remote or hybrid work environments that we’ve seen over the last three years means that staff are no longer necessarily accessing the library system through library-owned computers on library-managed LANs.  As part of the grant, networks focused on ensuring that secure VPN connections are always used by both central site and library staff.  The newly purchased firewalls have made possible simplified VPN sessions for staff working remotely, and a much more manageable overall VPN environment for central site. As an example, OCLN reports that it now has single-sign-on capabilities through Google, so that staff can sign onto the VPN via a regular browser and using the same credentials that they use for Google Workspace.  And no more shared passwords among library staff!

Staff Applications: Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

Central site and numerous library staff use shared applications.  Several audits found that access to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 needed better access controls. A clear, and near-term goal is to enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative users, and if possible, extend the requirement to all library staff.  CLAMS purchased MFA “security keys”, a small USB device for all staff to use when working remotely.  Security keys obviate the need for passwords and thereby avoid the danger of phishing attacks designed to capture passwords.

Password Strengthening and Management

CW MARS obtained a business class password management platform which enabled password strength to be audited.  By the end of the grant period, they reported that for central site staff, “Our average password strength was 94%. 0% of staff had a weak master password. 0% of staff had a reused password.”  Based on its security audit, MVLC intends to pursue a similar solution.

Email

Tighter network email attachment policies, better email verification via mailing system standards —DKIM and DMARC in particular– have been identified as ways to improve trust in email messages both coming into libraries and going out.

Penetration Testing and review by 3rd party

FLO was one of several networks that did vulnerability testing. FLO really dug into this issue, using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques to see whether there was information on potentially harmful attack vectors “out there” on the internet that might impact FLOs systems. As a result, they decommissioned an outdated server using an old operating system along, among other actions.

Not Just the Central Site – Including Member Libraries

Though some projects focused exclusively on central site systems and staff, others had broader reach. For example, MVLC’s security audit included 28 of its member libraries.

Next Steps

Every year, the MBLC provides network infrastructure grants from account 9506.  For FY24, the total grant round was increased by 33% to $400,000.  Cybersecurity investments are now allowable expenditures under this grant.   The initial MBLC cybersecurity grant round kicked off an ongoing process. Networks will take what they learned, and at the very least, invest in training, planning, plugging holes, updating policies, communicating cybersecurity roles and responsibilities to member libraries, and working together with their peers across the state to make Massachusetts libraries, resources, and library patron information safer and more secure.

Main Image: Lightning striking a rural building during a storm: onlookers react in terror. Engraving, 16 –. Weather. Lightning. Work ID: hfz9n5qe : under CC BY 4.0.

Building Intention in Canaan

By Andrea Bono-Bunker, Library Building Specialist

A holistic approach to sustainability considers both the environment and those who inhabit it. In construction, so much of our focus is on emissions, embodied carbon, and the breakdown of waste, but what about the human toll of building? As institutions with values that foster freedom, democracy, and self-fulfillment, do we have a responsibility to ensure that the materials and products used in our projects are sourced and manufactured in ways that also uphold those values? And how does a commitment to those values translate to the spaces we create for library staff and the public? 

The Building Literacy: Public Library Construction podcast has two new episodes that explore the issues above with a case study of the New Canaan Library in New Canaan, CT. In episode one, President and CEO, Lisa Oldham, and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Coordinator, Miki Porta join us to discuss their dedication to an all-electric future, their pilot project with local nonprofit Grace Farms on their Design for Freedom initiative, and fundraising best practices for a project where 75% of the funding came from private donors. In episode two, we delve into how intention in the design and construction process led to welcoming, well-used spaces and their decisions’ impacts on the library’s service model as it relates to the community they serve. We will hear about everything from unexpected connections to a learning framework meant to enhance each part of the library experience for all ages.

Episode 1: Holistic Sustainability in the New Canaan Library Project

Episode 2: Curating Services in Intentional Spaces at New Canaan Library

The New Canaan Library recently was featured in American Libraries’ 2023 Library Design Showcase under the Climate-Conscious category. To learn more about the project and its history, visit the library’s website.

While typically Massachusetts- focused, the Building Literacy: Public Library Construction podcast covers topics and material of interest to any stakeholder in a public library construction project. No matter where you are in your journey to a new or improved library, check out other episodes on this podcast and Library Space: A Planning Resource for Librarians.

MPLCP Revealed!

By Lauren Stara, Library Building Specialist

(Visit our new website by clicking the image above or link below.)

Are you curious about the impact of the MBLC’s Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) on your community? We are delighted to announce that we have a new website showing the entire history of our grant program, now live at https://mblcconstructionprogram.org/.

Here you will find all the grants we have awarded, searchable by municipality, with the grant year, the grant amount, the type of project, and the architect. In many cases, we have more data, like the dedication date, contractor, OPM, and total construction cost. Note that if your city or town does not appear in the drop-down list, it means that you have never received an MPLCP construction grant.

You can also scroll down to see a map of the entire state, color coded to show the status of past and current construction grants. We’ve had this map in printed form for many years, and we’ve finally gone digital! You can download a printable PDF of the map if you like the paper format.

(Click the image to download the PDF printable map.)

The great thing about this site is that we can update it periodically to reflect the progress of current projects and add new projects as we go through the 2023-2024 grant round.

Sincere thanks go to Celeste Bruno and June Thammasnong, our amazing Communications Team, as well as Andrea Bono-Bunker, Library Building Specialist and Rosemary Waltos, former Library Building Consultant. The site is the culmination of years of struggling with how to make our wealth of data available to the public – we’ve been working toward this since I started with the agency, over 10 years ago.

For more information about the MPLCP, visit the construction section of the MBLC website. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at lauren.stara@mass.gov or Andrea at andrea.bunker@mass.gov.

Meet your new MBLC Commissioner, Barbara Barros!

What are you looking forward to as a new Commissioner for Massachusetts libraries?

I’m looking forward to understanding the role I am in, what is expected of me and how I can make a difference.

What do you love about your local library?

There is something magical about entering a library; it’s the “old school” feeling where it takes me back to being a child spending my Saturday afternoons at my local library. Even though many things have changed over the years and not always for the better, the library has remained intact as a place to read, research and just be at peace in a nice quiet environment.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time I garden, I write and I raise chickens. I also make soap and I belong to a dance group.

What book changed your life?

The book that changed my life I would say is Jonathan Kozol’s book Death at an Early Age. It was the first book I read that had my own writing in it. Jonathan was my 4th grade teacher and he included a composition I wrote into his book. Seeing my writing in print for the first time was inspiring and even though it took me years to begin my writing career that has always stuck with me.

What are you reading right now?

I’m presently finishing my summer reading. I’m reading Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand and just finished several of her books; Winter in Paradise, Endless Summer and Nantucket Nights.

Commissioner Barros is pictured here at a book signing with the novel and two children’s books she’s authored.

Meet our new Commissioner, Joyce Linehan!

Commissioner Joyce Linehan was recently appointed as Commissioner to the MBLC by Governor Maura Healey. She was sworn in on July 12, 2023 by Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll (pictured).

What are you looking forward to as a new Commissioner for Massachusetts libraries?

I am so excited to be a Commissioner, and I am grateful to Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for the appointment. Libraries have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was raised by a single working mother in Dorchester, and she really relied on our local branch library (shoutout to the Adams Street Branch of the BPL!) to keep us occupied after school and in the summer. So I am most looking forward to giving back, and to doing all I can to make sure that everyone in the Commonwealth has free and equal access to libraries. I am also very interested in and disturbed by the library censorship that’s happening around the country. Library boards are an important backstop for that kind of dangerous activity. I truly believe what T.S. Eliot said: “The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.”

What do you love about your local library?

I am a voracious reader, and I am a heavy user of library e-books. I love the ease with which I can build a queue and books just appear like magic when they are ready. My local is the glorious Boston Public Library system, and I have been to all but a few of the 25 branches. As a child, at my branch, I took acting and writing classes, saw plays, music performances and poetry readings. Through college I spent copious amounts of time in the stacks at the Copley Square BPL, where my world was really opened up. Some of those libraries – like the main branch at Copley and the one in East Boston are architecturally stunning. Some have such strong communities and active friends groups that they serve as neighborhood institutions, providing all kinds of resources and support. All of them are cherished stewards of knowledge and information, and community anchors. In 2010, there was a proposal to close several Boston neighborhood branches, and that idea was met with such outcry and community organizing that it didn’t happen. People really communicated all that libraries mean to their communities.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to read! I read once that the average American female reader finishes 735 books in her lifetime (684 for men), and that’s not a lot of books. So I’m on a bit of a mission. I write for fun, and publish a Substack about music. I am a small-time art collector, and really wish I had more money and wall space to pursue more seriously. I also like to attend live theater and music performances, and I have been known to host author readings in my house. In fact, we had Matthew Desmond (Evicted, and Poverty, By America) and he won the Pulitzer after visiting with us. Coincidence? Though I like to read, my dog, Mercy, would prefer I do something else.

Commissioner Linehan’s dog, Mercy, attempting to interrupt reading time!

Commissioner Linehan displaying a work of art she just purchased with the artist, Franklin Marval.

What books have inspired you? *or* What book changed your life?  

Oh, that’s a long list, and I suppose it depends on the day. I was inspired by Madame Secretary, George Martin’s biography of Frances Perkins, the first female cabinet secretary in the country, who really pushed FDR in designing and implementing The New Deal. Michael Patrick MacDonald’s All Souls was inspirational to me. I’ve known Michael since we were pretty young, and his courage in telling the until-then untold story of poor people in South Boston still inspires awe. Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law, which tells the history of racism in American housing was hugely important to me when I was then-Mayor Marty Walsh’s policy chief, as was Elizabeth Hinton’s From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America. And it’s relatively new, but Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste is an important book to me.

What are you reading right now?

I usually have one fiction and one non-fiction book working at the same time, and I just finished Howard Fishman’s remarkable To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music and Mystery of Connie Converse. I was glad to find out that I am not the only one who is completely obsessed with Converse’s story and music. I also just finished Louise Kennedy’s Trespasses, which is one of the best works of fiction I’ve read of late. It’s sort of a love story set against The Troubles in Belfast in the mid-70’s. It’s as funny as it is heartbreaking. Bonus: Louise didn’t start writing until very late in life, so there’s hope for many of us! As soon as I hit send, I am off to Maine for a quiet weekend, and I am bringing Catherine Lacey’s Biography of X, and Kerry Howley’s Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs: A Journey Through The Deep State.

The End of a (Construction) Chapter

By Lauren Stara, Library Building Specialist

We are delighted to announce the completion of the waiting list from the 2016-2017 Grant Round for the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). In July of 2017, the Commissioners approved immediate funding for nine construction projects and placed 24 municipalities on a waiting list for funding as our annual capital budget allowed. Because of escalating construction costs, it’s taken six years to make our way through the waiting list. The final three communities’ provisional grants were awarded by the Commissioners at their monthly meeting on July 13.

Despite the effects of the pandemic, the proportion of declined grants is in line with MPLCP history. Between 25% and 30% of municipalities have declined MPLCP grants in rounds over the last 35 years.

2016-2017 Construction Grant Round – statistics to date:

  • 33 projects approved for funding in 2017
  • 13 projects completed
  • 2 projects under construction
  • 5 projects in final planning
  • 2 projects awarded provisional grants with local funding approved & final planning underway
  • 1 project awarded a provisional grant with local funding to be approved
  • 10 grants declined

(2023 Map of New Libraries in MA and library construction in the past 20 years.)

For more details about the projects and municipalities funded, visit the MBLC’s website page on Construction Programs and Support.

As you may know, we have already launched the the 2023-2024 grant round, which follows a new competitive, single-application process, combining the old Planning & Design grant round with the old Construction grant round. This streamlining eliminates approximately two years from the former project timeline, which we hope will result in more success in passing local funding and lower escalation for awarded projects. As a result of our Small Library Pilot Project, we also added a new grant category for small population towns of under 2,500. We received 27 Letters of Intent to apply for the new grant round, with applications due in May of 2024. We anticipate that the Commissioners will approve these grants in October of 2024, after the independent review process.For more information about the new grant round, visit the MBLC’s Construction Programs and Support page.

If you have any questions about the MPLCP, please contact me at lauren.stara@mass.gov or Andrea Bono-Bunker at andrea.bunker@mass.gov.

Get to Know Commissioner Mary Ann Cluggish

(Commissioner Cluggish in the center of Blades and Lauren Baker at a summer reading event at Tyngsboro Public Library in 2022 .)

What is your favorite thing about being a commissioner?

Since this is my last year on the MBLC, it seems a bit odd to be introducing myself, but here goes. Just being on the MBLC and participating in events is interesting and fun. But speaking at Groundbreakings and Library Dedications is an honor and brings a special satisfaction. MBLC Summer Reading Events are simply delightful and again, a satisfying activity in helping to generate interest in reading in young children.  It has been an honor to represent the MBLC at Legislative Breakfasts, meet Legislators, and advocate for Libraries. I enjoyed served as Chair for a couple of terms and certainly enjoyed the Executive Board.

(2017 Hopkinton Ribbon Cutting)

What do you love about your local library?

What I love about my own Library, is that it’s very well-run and busy. As Trustee Chair, I shepherded the construction of the new library through Town Meeting despite being vigorously opposed for two years by three different groups. I then was intimately involved with the construction for a year and a half; so intimately involved, that the Director and I chose the color of the mortar between the bricks! Whenever I walk into the building, I am so filled with pride that it feels like my head is going to explode. I also participated heavily in raising $3.6 million dollars for the construction of the new building and was part of the team that set up the Foundation. I served as a Trustee for 12 years; I am still active peripherally in various activities.

Plaque honoring Mary Ann Cluggish at Wellesley Free Library.

What do you like to do when you’re not being a commissioner?

Who I am can be summed up in these categories: Travel, the Outdoors, Wildlife, Birding, Water, and Town Affairs. I got the travel bug early, saved my money, and traveled around Europe for a year when I was 22 years old. I’ve been on three African Safaris and to most of the countries in South America. I’ve also traveled the world with birding groups to search for and identify birds.  I’m very proud of the fact that in my lifetime I’ve identified over 1000 species in the wild. On weekends in the winter, I can be found walking the beaches of Massachusetts looking for Snowy Owls.

(Left: Commissioner Cluggish is an avid birder. Do you know what type of bird this is? Right: Commissioner Cluggish in Argentina with a penguin!)

On the water: I volunteered weekly on the Boston Harbor Islands every summer for 13 years, leading tours and answering questions. I’ve done several whale and orca research trips with Earthwatch and similar organizations.  I’ve also been kayaking the rivers of Massachusetts for a long time.

Insofar as Town Affairs go, I was part of a group of 5 women who founded the Town’s Recycling program way back in 1971. It was the first in the state and one of the first in the nation. Both the EPA and Mass Audubon surprised us with awards. I also was part of a group of 13 women who started an Environmental Aide program in the public schools. We took children on nature walks, and taught them winter tracking, simple geology, tree identification, etc.

I’ve been an elected Town Meeting Member for 40 years, served on three elected boards, on the Finance Committee, the Permanent Building Committee, and on several appointed Ad Hoc study committees. I served as chair of an Open Space Management Study Committee, convinced the Town Meeting to approve the merging of 7 different authorities and set up a Natural Resources Commission. As the first Chair, I negotiated the purchase of 42 acres of open space, and persuaded Town Meeting to approve funding the purchase.

Professionally, I was a Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a small company, and then a Trainer/Consultant to High Technology Companies. Both of these positions enabled me to travel both nationally and internationally.

What books have inspired you? *or* What book changed your life?  

As a young reader I was inspired by books about early aviators, with Amelia Earhart leading the bunch of course.

What are you reading right now?

Crossroads by Johnathan Franzen.

(Commissioner Cluggish gives a rousing speech about the continued importance of libraries and congratulates the town’s hard work at Salisbury Public Library in June 2014).