Tag: IMLS

Supreme Court Cases & Libraries

by MBLC Library Information Systems Specialist, Kate Butler

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

E-rate helps public libraries and schools connect users to the internet, fast. E-rate is a federally funded program offering 20-90% discounts on high-speed broadband, and the equipment and support services that make that connectivity work. In FY2025, 269 Massachusetts public libraries are part of networks that get E-Rate funding in some amount. E-Rate is not an IMLS program. It is paid out of the Universal Service Fund overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

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

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

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

MBLC May 9 Update

Dear Colleagues,

Yesterday, President Trump fired Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress who has been a champion of intellectual freedom. Hearing this news early today was both upsetting and infuriating. My colleague Karen Mellor, the Chief of Library Services at the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services framed the situation eloquently when she said, “The country is poorer now for the irrational removal of a respected and thoughtful leader of one of our nation’s leading institutions.” Dr. Hayden was the first woman and first African American Librarian of Congress. She was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by Congress in 2016, and served under the Obama, Trump, Biden, and Trump’s current administrations. Her entire career has been focused on equity in library services, patron privacy, outreach, and building diversity within the library workforce.

Dr. Hayden’s abrupt termination is a stark reminder that our freedom, including our freedom to read, is being challenged across the country. Hereat home we need to continue efforts to pass legislation that protects that right — and protects the librarians who work to ensure that all voices are part of library collections.

We received notice this week that a federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction halting the further dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)  that began on March 14 when President Trump signed Executive Order 14238 eliminating IMLS to “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”   The preliminary injunction comes as part of the lawsuit filed by attorneys general in 21 states, including Massachusetts.  This is separate from the lawsuit filed by the American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) which as I reported out in last week’s update, was granted a temporary restraining order to block the dismantling of IMLS.

These are solid wins. In the long game they may move us closer to a return to reliable federal funding for libraries. But right now, the MBLC is facing difficult decisions that are based on what we do know: federal uncertainty persists. We cannot sign contracts or move ahead with services for FY2026 based on what we hope will happen with federal funding.

We’ve been asked if there’s a possibility that the flow of federal funding will return for FY2026. There’s always that possibility.  And should the funding requirements align with the values we’ve held since our founding in 1890, we’ll gladly accept them and put them to work serving the people of the Commonwealth.

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

Sincerely,

Maureen Amyot

Director

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Chicopee Library is “Combining Good Ingredients”

The MBLC offers an innovative category among our LSTA grant options for libraries that have come up with a unique solution to address a community need. One of this year’s innovative grants is Chicopee Public Library’s “Combining Good Ingredients”.

Many Chicopee residents live with food insecurity, in poverty, and/or in poor health. The library was approached by several local organizations looking to partner with it to help solve these pressing issues. The library’s central location and frequent hours combined with mobile outreach via the Bookmobile make it a natural hub for the collaborative efforts of the various community groups that serve Chicopee in terms of food needs. Recognizing the need in the city and the impact they could have, the library applied for and received an innovative grant.

With their grant, Chicopee Public Library has offered numerous programs that educate and entertain in order to encourage healthy eating, gardening, and cooking. Programs offered included Mediterranean Cooking, Pollinators in your Garden, and Soup’s Up, an intergenerational story time. Focusing on programming is giving patrons the opportunity for hands-on learning and the ability to ask questions in the moment. It has opened the door of the library to residents who might not be readers or who do not want to take home books and videos.

The cooking and gardening programs have been the most popular, though attendees have been very enthusiastic about all that has been offered. Nearly all the participants said they learned something new and that they would make changes from what they learned. Plus, they plan on coming back for more programs!

The library has also found some unique ways to carry out the grant beyond programming. A very popular collection of food toys has been added to the children’s room. Parents mention that having story times with food have given them ideas about how to use food toys at home with their children. The traveling art exhibit “Food for Thought: The Origins of Massachusetts Foods and Why It Matters” from the Commonwealth Museum was on display in January. If anyone looking to donate some seeds, the Chicopee Public Library will be happy to add them to its new seed library. And coming later this summer will be a portable pizza garden!

Through the Bookmobile, the Library is reaching members of its community who could greatly benefit from this project and might not use the traditional brick and mortar building. In the coming months, Bookmobile stops will include a pop-up food pantry with Lorraine’s Food Pantry. Additionally, ChicopeeFRESH (a grant funded farm to school program) will distribute fresh vegetables at Bookmobile stops during the summer months.

With this project, the library is trying to be part of the solution by offering opportunities and resources that allow Chicopee residents to make better and smarter choices. Through strong partnerships, hands-on learning, and targeted outreach, Chicopee Public Library shows what an innovative force in the community looks like.