There are two IMLS related happenings this week: The first is that the federal HouseĀ budget markup has been pushed back, which meansĀ 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 essentiallyĀ close downĀ the agency.Ā BUT that is not a done deal.Ā While IMLS is part of the federal budget,Ā Congress, not the President,Ā determines how much funding IMLS will get.
ThisĀ article on BookRiotĀ has valuable information about the timeline, process, and who to contact. From Book Riot article: āContacting the members of the Labor-HHS-Education subcommitteeĀ 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.Ā But before you reach out to members of the Subcommittee,Ā reach out to your own RepresentativeĀ and urge them to demand their colleagues include restoration of IMLS funding in their markup.ā
The second is reported from Education Week and seems to indicate that advocacy efforts are paying off:Ā SenatorsāIncluding RepublicansāReject All of Trumpās Proposed Education Cuts. The article talks mainly about the Department of Education, but does mention IMLS, āThe 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 theĀ Institute of Museum and Library Services.ā
Thank you for your advocacy on IMLS funding. Your efforts are important and are working!
By Ally Dowds, MBLC Consultant, Services to Special Populations
Libraries serve as vital community hubs and value their institutions as welcoming spaces that take proactive steps to protect patron rights and intellectual freedoms. Current federal immigration enforcement activities throughout Massachusetts and the broader United States have left library staff and stakeholders grappling with how best to support vulnerable community members and remain committed to missions rooted in diverse and inclusive practices. Below are suggested pathways to support staff and sustain our place as trusted institutions for all patrons.
Clear policies and procedures
As both a community and very public space, libraries may develop institutional procedures to feel better prepared to respond to ICE inquiries. This could include designating points of contact, outlining clear communication channels, or facilitating regular staff workshops on bystander training, patron privacy or emergency response to reduce uncertainty and support effective response. One place to start is to review the MA Library Systemās collection of policy samples.
Ultimately, librarians cannot dispense legal advice, but we can provide access to information, and this includes material related to an individualās constitutional and statutory rights. Review the rights and legal framework for ICE stops, arrests, and inquiries found within Know Your Rights guidance from the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General or refer patrons to local resources on Boston Public Libraryās expansive Legal Services Referral list.
Lastly, check to see if your city or town has developed its own laws around federal civil immigration enforcement. The Massachusetts Municipal Association has shared this official statement signed by leaders from 13 cities and one town on ICE activities in their communities.
Know Your Rights and Theirs
A good place to start is ALAās How to Respond to Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information. This comprehensive guide on patron privacy may help you prepare for and respond to requests from law enforcement while upholding First and Fourth Amendment freedoms, professional ethics and state laws. If legal advice or expert opinion is needed, please do consult with the libraryās local municipal attorney as they often have the final say on town legal matters.
A good place to start is ALAās How to Respond to Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information. This comprehensive guide on patron privacy may help you prepare for and respond to requests from law enforcement while upholding First and Fourth Amendment freedoms, professional ethics and state laws. If legal advice or expert opinion is needed, please do consult with the libraryās local municipal attorney as they often have the final say on town legal matters.
Sometimes all we can be in the moment is a good bystander. Someone to bear witness, relay information, or make a phone call. Page 3 of the Attorney Generalās Know Your Rights guidance outlines these rights. Read it. Decide how and if this fits into your role, and remember, āBystanders are not required to answer questions about their own immigration status or the status of another person.ā
Post-event staff support
If your staff, your patrons, or your colleagues experience immigration enforcement in your library space, it is important to address and assess the impact this experience has on the individual or group. Review procedures, be an ally, provide staff training, host listening sessions, or connect employees and colleagues to Employee Assistance Program services.
Community engagement and education
Why should libraries concern themselves with immigration enforcement? Look to your library mission, which often encourages a library to be the mirrors and windows to the community it serves. Some of the basic ethical underpinnings of libraries is to offer free, nonjudgemental spaces for people to access lifelines to information. Libraries do this regardless of immigration status.
Collaborate with partners like the MIRA Coalition to support immigrant communities on topics like bystander training, Family Preparedness, or legal clinics. Engage with local resources to ensure you are providing safe and accurate information to your patrons and staff. Display informational flyers in multiple languages that highlight immigration hotlines, Know Your Rights basics, or Citizenship Assistance and empower patrons through informational access.
And finally, continue to build trust through collections that showcase diverse voices, programs that bridge the differences of our languages, and staff that welcome all through your doors.
Itās been a busy few weeks with both the state and federal budgets passed. Iāve included some key takeaways and actions needed below.
Now is the time for IMLS funding Funding to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will be decided in the next few weeks.Ā It is critical to contactĀ legislatorsĀ now.
In the federal budget framework that was just passed, IMLS is funded at $6 million to essentiallyĀ close downĀ the agency.Ā BUT that is not a done deal.Ā While IMLS is part of the federal budget,Ā Congress,Ā not the President,Ā determines how much funding IMLS will get.
The House Appropriations Committee is currently reviewing and marking up the budget. The subcommittee overseeing funding for IMLS isĀ scheduled for Monday, July 21.Ā Ā Members of this committeeĀ can be contacted. ThisĀ article on BookRiotĀ has valuable information about who to contact and what information to include.
TheĀ federal budget impacts the state budget. Governor Healey signed theĀ state budgetĀ last week. State legislators and officials are determining how federal budget cuts will impact the state. But the Governor has already been proactive. According to theĀ Healey and Driscoll Administration, āGovernor Healey is vetoing $130 million, resulting in a final budget that is more than $1 billion less than the H1 proposal and $130 million less than the final conference budget. The administration is also continuing an Executive Branch hiring freeze, halting a planned non-union manager pay raise scheduled for January, saving $17 million, and delaying payment on earmarked funds for local projects in the budget totaling approximately $125 millionĀ until later in the year when more is understood about their affordability.ā
TheĀ state budget level fundsĀ all but two Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) budget linesāin this climate that is good news. However, it is tempered with a $21,341 cut to the Board of Library Commissioners Support and Outreach Services line (7000-9101). For FY2026, the MBLC requested an increase of $414,854 to this line. Given the federal uncertainty, this funding isĀ even more critical for agency staff and operationsĀ and wasĀ funded below FY2025Ā levels at $2,052,927.
The MBLC has hadĀ very limited contact with IMLSĀ since much of the agencyās workforce was placed on leave. Last week theĀ Supreme Courtās ruling on mass firingsĀ at federal agenciesĀ seems to support the Trump Administrationās reduction in workforce efforts. Itās unclear whether IMLS staff will be brought back whileĀ Massachusetts and other states pursue legal avenues.
As Iāve mentioned in previous updates, the way the IMLS funding works in Massachusetts is that the MBLC expends money and is then reimbursed by IMLS for those expenses. The lack of IMLS staff and the uncertainty about IMLS funding mean theĀ risk of not being reimbursed remains high.
However, the MBLC continues to submit for reimbursements andĀ some small reimbursements have gone through. Itās too soon to tell what that means for future reimbursements, especially with the significant hurdles that still exist for IMLS funding.Ā For more background theĀ Center for Budget Policy and PrioritiesĀ sums up the current circumstances well.Ā Read the full article.
Thank you for your advocacy and your support as we navigate these difficult times together. Please continue to reach out with questions anytime.
Sincerely,
Maureen Amyot
Director, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
It has been a quieter-than-usual week on the federal front but I did want to share one important item. Yesterday, I received an email from the Regional Director for Senator Elizabeth Warren that said, in part:
āWanted to share this letter Senator Warren and Senator Markey sent last night to the Institute of Museum and Library Services Acting Director Keith E. Sonderling demanding answers on funding cuts to museums and libraries across the country. You can also read a full article with more context from this WBUR article … We appreciate the work MBLC and others like it do to make Massachusetts the special place that it is and will continue to support you and fight for you as best we can.ā
The letter that the Senators sent is attached to this email [see or download letter above]. It is encouraging to know that our Massachusetts Senators are such strong and vocal supporters of libraries. They gave June 24 as the deadline for Mr. Sonderlingās response. If he replies, I will share the information in a future update. Thank you for all you are doing to keep our state and federal legislators informed. It really makes a difference.
The regular monthly board meetingof the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, June 5th, 2025. This meeting is fully remote.
š° MBLC Maintains some Databases, Support for eBooks, and ComCat
At the annual Massachusetts Library Association conference, MBLC Director Maureen Amyot addressed the impact of ongoing federal uncertainty caused by the executive order and spoke about the MBLCās efforts to preserve as many federally funded statewide services as possible. Director Amyot announced the FY2026 plan for statewide research databases, the statewide eBook program, and the Commonwealth Catalog.To read more about FY2026 databases, visit the MBLC website.
š° Libraries Level Funded in Proposed Senate Budget
State Aid ARIS & Financial Report season are upon us! The FY26 ARIS survey will open on July 1st and close on Friday, August 15th, and the FY26 Financial Report will open on August 4th and close on Friday, October 3rd. We are offering six ARIS trainings this month and into early July, and please 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.
ā¹ļø Database Library Community Information (Online)
On Tuesday, May 20, the āState of the Stateā presented by MBLC Director Maureen Amyot at the Massachusetts Library Association conference included announcement about statewide services that have been impacted by the uncertainty caused by Executive Order 14238. These services include statewide databases, the Commonwealth Catalog, and the statewide Library eBooks and Audiobooks (LEA) program powered by Libby. For those unable to attend MLA, please register for an information session.
Open to all interested in ensuring safe and stable storage and improving collection management for your library or organizationās preservation projects. Connect with the MBLCās 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.
š Unlocking MassHealth: What You Need to Know to Help Your Patrons (Online)
Join Community Engagement and Education staff for an informative webinar designed to help Massachusetts residents, caregivers, and service providers better understand MassHealthāthe stateās Medicaid and CHIP program. Whether you’re applying for the first time, assisting someone else, or just want to stay informed about recent updates, this session will give you the tools and resources you need to increase understanding and access for your library community. This session will be recorded and registration is required.
Libraries need active and engaged trustees now more than ever. If you are a new trustee hoping to learn more about your role or a more seasoned trustee looking for a deeper understanding of the basics, you are invited to the MBLC’s Library Trustee Orientation. This is a 4-session course where you will learn more about your role and responsibilities as a Library Trustee. Registration is required.
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!
š„ļø Librarianing for Social Flourishing (Online)
Please join us on Friday, June 13th from 2-3:30pm for the interactive webinar “A Library is Not a Computer: Librarianing for Social Flourishing,” led by Dr. Margo Gustina. In this 90-minute interactive webinar, Dr. Gustina will introduce how librarians build neighborhood pathways toward wellbeing based in years of continuous community-based research. This event is co-sponsored by Simmons University School of Library and Information Science, the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).
š Census Bureau Data 101: Resources and Services (Online)
In this workshop you will learn about U.S. Census Bureau’s surveys and data resources available to help you understand, access, and use Census Bureau data, which can be helpful to libraries for community research and outreach, program planning, and resource allocation. We will take a tour of the Census Bureauās website and highlight areas that may be most useful to library staff and patrons and provide a demonstration on how to quickly pull up your community’s data profile. Registration is required.
š» Introduction to the Statewide Patron Portal (Online)
Join us on June 18th for an introduction to the Statewide Patron Portal at libraries.state.ma.us! This walkthrough and information session will introduce our revamped site, including the Library of Things search and the statewide events calendar. We’ll also discuss tagging events and updating your library’s information. Register for the 11am morning session or the 2pm afternoon session.
‘Tis the season for ARIS (Annual Report Information & Statistics) trainings! Review the Annual Survey and learn about the new questions that will appear. Workshop information (meeting ID, etc.) will be emailed to registered participants as the date of the session approaches. Registration is required.
Join Cate Merlin, Head of State Programs, and your fellow Library Directors, Trustees, and others seeking advice and answers as we embark upon the FY2026 budget season. Make sure your next budget, materials spending, and hours open fully meet State Aid requirements, and share ideas for budget strategies with others- registration is not required, and session and chats will not be recorded or saved.
š Supporting Library Patrons with Re-Employment NeedsāAn Overview by MassHire (Online)
Join this informative session designed to equip library staff with tools, resources, and knowledge to support patrons navigating unemployment, layoffs, and re-employment opportunities. There are over 25 MassHire Career Centers across that state and a Rapid Response Team that provides early intervention re-employment services to employees affected by layoffs and closings.
Join us for the first webinar in a new series discussing digital accessibility topics and building tech skills to support your website’s accessibility. We’ll discuss the Department of Justice ADA Title II ruling and how it affects libraries as well as some accessibility basics to get you started.
Have specific questions? Accessibility office hours will be starting this summer, schedule TBA!
š MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on July 10th (Hybrid)
The regular monthly board meetingof the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, July 10th, 2025. Location: TBD.
š Bruins Summer Reading Materials coming your way
Thank you for submitting your orders for Bruins summer reading materials featuring Jeremy Swayman! Expected time for delivery to your library is about 2 weeks from now. All materials are available to print and download at the MBLC Awarehouse as well, please be in touch with any questions!
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, āThe country is poorer now for the irrational removal of a respected and thoughtful leader of one of our nationās leading institutions.ā 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 Trumpās current administrations. Her entire career has been focused on equity in library services, patron privacy, outreach, and building diversity within the library workforce.
Dr. Haydenās 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.
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.
Weāve been asked if thereās a possibility that the flow of federal funding will return for FY2026. Thereās always that possibility. And should the funding requirements align with the values weāve held since our founding in 1890, weāll 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.
In the meantime, with FY2026 rapidly approaching, the MBLC continues to navigate and plan for staff and services in a rapidly changing environment. Some states have received IMLS reimbursements (including usāmore information below) and there are reports that funds for FY2026 are coming. On the surface these sound like positive developments. However, with little to no staff at IMLS (the majority of IMLS employees were placed on a 90 day leave at the end of March) and what appear to be new requirements to receive funding, questions remain about IMLS as a reliable source of funding.
Some quick background: Prior to President Trumpās Executive Order, IMLS required the MBLC to submit a five-year plan that sets broad strategic direction for the use of federal funds, and after five years there is an evaluation. Plans and evaluations are on the MBLC website.
Now,Ā compliance with other executive orders filed by President Trump may be part of the process to receive IMLS funding.Ā In late April, the MBLC received the email below from IMLS Acting Director Keith Sonderling asking the MBLC for the following information:
From the Sonderling email: Pursuant to 20 USC Ā§ 9134 and your obligations under the Grant Award Guidance and Statement of Assurances and Certifications, please provide IMLS with the following information:
Whether and how federal taxpayer dollars provided to you under the Grants to States program have been used, or are still being used, to subsidize programs that conflict with government policy as found below:
Executive Order 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and
Executive Order 14253, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, and
Executive Orders 13899 and 14188, Combating Anti-Semitism and Additional Measures To Combat Anti-Semitism, and
Executive Order 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, and
Executive Order 14202, Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias, and
Executive Order 14190, Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling, and
How federal taxpayer dollars provided to you under the Grants to States program are being used to facilitate access to resources that cultivate an educated and informed American citizenry, and
How you plan to involve your agencies in the upcoming celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America?
The MBLC is responding with the requested information. That said, the MBLC remains committed to serving everyoneāitās what we have done since 1890 and itās what we will continue to do.
In terms of reimbursements, as a sort of trial run, the MBLC submitted a small reimbursement to IMLS on April 6. Nearly a month later, we received notice that reimbursement is being processed. Before President Trumpās Executive Order, turnaround time for reimbursements was a few days. This lag time may be indicative of the ongoing challenges of trying to run IMLS with little to no staff.
Both the instability at IMLS and the Sonderling email serve as indicators that at this point, federal funding remains uncertain. This places the MBLC in the position of planning for FY2026 without federal funding. The broad effect of President Trumpās Executive Orders, impacting more than libraries, and creating funding challenges across the state, means that the state budget cannot make up the total loss of the $3.6 million in IMLS funds the MBLC receives.
At yesterdayās MBLC board meeting, I called the situation dire. For example, the state House Ways and Means budget, which level funded all MBLC budget lines, leaves us short in our agency line, 7000-9101. Without the increase of $415,000 to this line as requested in the FY2026 Legislative Agenda, and in spite of cutting absolutely everything possible from that line, the MBLC cannot cover the basic costs for the agency ā salaries and the lease on our office space. There isnāt any place else within our budget lines that funding for agency operations can come from.
In terms of MBLC staff, weāre already leanāhaving gone from a staffing high of 38 in previous years to 23 current staff members. To provide the services required in Massachusetts General Law Chapter 78, we need every single person we currently have on staff. If we cut staff, we will have to cut services, and that would put us out of compliance with state law.
For FY2026, we continue to work on plans and are in constant communication with the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) and vendors as we figure out funding levels that would allow us to continue as many services as possible with the funds we have left.
Our efforts now turn to the Senate which will release its budget proposal this month. It is crucial that progress is made towards the funding requested in the FY2026 Legislative Agenda, especially budget line 7000-9101, Board of Library Commissioners.
Sincerely,
Maureen Amyot
Director, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, May 1st, 2025. Ā This meeting is fully remote.
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the Massachusetts House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee released their proposal for the FY2026 budget. Except for slight differences in the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) agency line (7000-9101) and Technology and Resource Sharing (7000-9506), the House proposal funds all MBLC budget lines at FY2025 levels which aligns with the Governor’s budget released in January. TheĀ full budget chartĀ is available on the MBLC website. To read more about FY2026 level funding for libraries in Massachusetts, visit the MBLC website.
On April 15, 2025, Melrose residents were joined by state and local officials toĀ celebrate the grand openingĀ of the new Melrose Public Library. āThe construction of any library, no matter the size, affirms the principles and freedoms we stand on,” said Commissioner Jessica Vilas Novas from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). The project was partially funded with a $8 million grant through the MBLCās Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP).Ā To read more about Melrose’s new library, visit the MBLC website.
In the wake of President Trump’sĀ Executive Order 14238Ā that targeted the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the notice that the entire IMLS staff was put on administrative leave on March 31, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) announced cuts to library services and grants at its monthly board meeting.Ā To read more about cuts due to federal funding uncertainty, visit the MBLC website.
šļø Sharon Public Library Ribbon Cutting CeremonyĀ
A grand opening celebration will be held a tthe new Sharon Public Library at 1 School Street at 2PM on Monday, May 19. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, a tour of the new library, mural unveiling in vesituble and the mural artist will speak in the new Community Room. Parking will be available at the library and at the High Street lot. To learn more about the Sharon Public Library project, visit the Town of Sharonās website.
Connect with literacy coordinators and library staff to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build a supportive community. Whether youāre 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!
Open to all interested in ensuring safe and stable storage and improving collection management for your library or organizationās preservation projects. Connect with the MBLCās 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.
š§ Libraries as Cooling Centers: Every Library Can Be One! Presented by the Northeast Summit for Climate Adaptation for Library Facilities (Online)Ā
The Northeast Summit on Climate Adaptation for Library Facilities is pleased to announce this last webinar for the 2024-2025 season. The session will begin with a brief overview of what the term cooling center means. You may be surprised to find that your library is one, even if you werenāt using that term! There will also be a keynote speaker, Jared Ulmer, from the Vermont Department of Health and a panel discussion. This event is part of the Northeast Summit on Climate Adaptation for Library Facilities, a collaboration of the State Libraries from Maine to Maryland. This webinar was planned by the Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services and the Vermont Department of Libraries.
Open to all interested in ensuring safe and stable storage and improving collection management for your library or organizationās preservation projects. Connect with the MBLCās 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.
š Rapid Response Federal Layoff Information Sessions, Presented by the MassHire Rapid Response Team (Online)Ā
MassHire is hosting a series of Federal Layoff Information Sessions to provide statewide, early intervention re-employment services to employees affected by layoffs and closings. Topics covered will include unemployment insurance eligibility, MassHire Career Center services and more. View or download the flyer to share information about these sessions and to register to attend. The MBLC will partner with MassHire in the near future to bring these sessions in person across the state. More information to come!
ļøā”ļø Get to Know Your Government: The Massachusetts Office on Disability (Online)Ā
Join us for a conversation and Q&A with the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) to learn more about this state agency, the guidance and support it provides to disability-related civil rights and architectural access, and a space to share feedback on how MOD can better serve both library staff and patrons. Registration is required.
š¤ So You Want to Be a Library Trustee? (Online)Ā
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 us to learn more 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. 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.
As the FY26 budget cycle continues, learn about the process (and paperwork) required to apply for a waiver of the MAR, so you and your municipalities can be prepared.
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!Ā Ā
š Census Data for Libraries ā Data on a Deadline (Online)
In this session we will explore census.gov and learn where to find and how to use a variety of data access tools that can quickly provide a snapshot of your community or state. Through short live demos you will gain insights about tools and resources such as QuickFacts, data.census.gov, Narrative Profiles, OnTheMap, Interactive Maps and more. Attendance at the previous two sessions is not required to join this session. All registrants will receive a Zoom link for the webinar the day before the event.
Tuesday, May 13 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link
B&T Connect is the data analysis and visualization counterpoint to B&T Collect. This training will walk you through the basics of creating and viewing data and charts using years of your library data (and data from all MA libraries), so you can better advocate for your libraries and communities.
Join Cate Merlin, Head of State Programs, and your fellow Library Directors, Trustees, and others seeking advice and answers as we embark upon the FY2026 budget season. Make sure your next budget, materials spending, and hours open fully meet State Aid requirements, and share ideas for budget strategies with others- registration is not required, and session and chats will not be recorded or saved.
MBLC has partnered with the Department of Mental Health to help libraries serve their communities with the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline, a statewide service that connects individuals directly to clinical help, when and where it is needed.
Free, confidential, and no health insurance is required.Ā
Real-time interpretation in 200+ languages.Ā
Deaf or hard of hearing? Contact MassRelay at 711 or use your video relay or caption provider of choice.Ā
šĀ Save the Date! *June 18* Introduction to the Statewide Patron Portal (Online)Ā
Join us on June 18th for an introduction to the Statewide Patron Portal at libraries.state.ma.us! This walkthrough and information session will introduce our revamped site, including the Library of Things search and the statewide events calendar. We’ll also discuss tagging events and updating your library’s information. Register for the 11 am morning session or the 2 pm afternoon session.
Reading the Revolution is a collaborative, statewide reading list to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence. The Massachusetts Center of the Book and the MBLC invite you to share your suggestions for book titles, articles and online resources of untold and unsung histories in Massachusetts from the past 250 years. This is in partnership with Massachusetts250, a two-year campaign organized by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, June 5th, 2025, at the MBLC Office, 90 Canal Street, Boston.
Is the State Aid to Public Libraries Program affected by federal funding?
State Aid Grant Awards that public libraries receive through the State Aid to Public Libraries are fully funded by the annual state budget line 7000-9501. Not federal funding. However, all staff who work in the State Aid Unit are funded in part through federal funding. āCate Merlin, Head of State Programs
š NEW BLOG SERIES! Fortifying Your Library with Al Hayden
The regular monthly board meetingof the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams. This is a hybrid meeting.
šApply for a Summer Library Visit with Blades by March 24
Blades library visits are 1 hour with all event materials provided by the MBLC and Bruins. A typical visit includes a hockey themed story (read by librarian or local VIP), hockey trivia, activity stations (coloring, beading, button making), photos with Blades, and outdoor games (such as Jenga and Connect 4).
š° eBook Funding Increases but Access Constrained
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) recently awarded $1 million in grants to Automated Networks for purchase of eContent for the Library eBook and Audiobook program (LEA). LEA gives Massachusetts residents access to eBooks, audiobooks, and more from 389 participating libraries. For more information on increased eBook funding, visit the MBLC website.
Libraries certified in the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) State Aid to Public Libraries Program receive local aid funding to directly support public library services. For FY2025, 347 municipalities and their libraries are certified in the program and will share $20 million. For more on FY2025 State Aid, visit the MBLC website.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce 18 libraries will receive a combined $93,000 as the FY2025 recipients of Explore Grants. The MBLC uses federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding to provide Explore Grants that improve library services, collections, and programs. For more on how federal funding makes a local impact with the Explore Grants, visit the MBLC website.
š Community Voices: Curating Oral Histories and Audiovisual Collections (Recording now available online)
Whether your recordings are audio, video, āon tape,ā or born digital, curating oral histories and other media introduces new and different questions around collecting, management, preservation, and use. What equipment do you need to capture or digitize? How do you calculate storage? Should you work with a vendor? Do you need permission to make peopleās stories and historical recordings available in your library and online? View the recording online, and/or contact Preservation Specialist Jess Colatiwith any questions or to schedule a 1-on-1 appointment.
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!
Open to all interested in ensuring safe and stable storage and improving collection management for your library or organizationās preservation projects. Connect with the MBLCās 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.
Join Cate Merlin, Head of State Programs, and your fellow Library Directors, Trustees, and others seeking advice and answers as we embark upon the FY2026 budget season. Make sure your next budget, materials spending, and hours open fully meet State Aid requirements, and share ideas for budget strategies with others- registration is not required, and session and chats will not be recorded or saved.
š Census Bureau Data 101: Resources and Services (Online)
In this workshop you will learn about U.S. Census Bureau’s surveys and data resources available to help you understand, access, and use Census Bureau data, which can be helpful to libraries for community research and outreach, program planning, and resource allocation. We will take a tour of the Census Bureauās website and highlight areas that may be most useful to library staff and patrons and provide a demonstration on how to quickly pull up your community’s data profile.
š Building Friendships Between People with and without Disabilities: A Train-the-Trainer Workshop (Online)
The ARC of Massachusetts will facilitate a 2-hour train-the-trainer workshop model to equip library staff with the skills and strategies needed to foster friendships between people with and without disabilities. This interactive presentation will provide practical tools to help integrate inclusive practices into your organization. Registration is required.
The State Aid team is excited to introduce Baker & Taylor Connect to the Library community! B&T Connect is the data analysis and visualization counterpoint to B&T Collect. This training will walk you through the basics of creating and viewing data and charts using years of your library data (and data from all MA libraries), so you can better advocate for your libraries and communities.
š Breaking Bad Conversations about Climate Change with John E. Fernandez(Online)
Please join us to learn how to better communicate about challenges facing our climate with Professor John E. Fernandez, a practicing architect, a full professor in the Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Director of MITās Environmental Solutions Initiative. Professor Fernandez will leverage his experience engaging across diverse sectors of American society ā the public sector, private sector, communities, and civil society generally ā to offer ways in which to engage in non-confrontational, nonpartisan, and, most importantly, positive conversations about climate change. The aim of the talk will be to discuss cases in which conversations are likely to be derailed by current misunderstandings and explicitly confusing information and offer pathways toward, if not agreement, then purposeful enhancement of understanding and empathy. Professor Fernandez will also offer several information and communication assets developed over the past few years by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative.
This webinar was planned by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Massachusetts Library System, and the Vermont Department of Libraries.
šSpecial Populations Deep Dive: Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth (Online)
Join us for a conversation and Q&A with the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth to learn more about its Annual Recommendations for state agencies (including the MBLC!), the Safe School Initiative, and opportunities for trainings and technical assistance to schools across the state. The Commission advises others in state government on effective policies, programs, and resources for LGBTQ youth and will help connect you to resources and latest news to help libraries support youth in their communities.
Itās not too late to join the Boston Bruins, DCF/Wonderfund and Cradles to Crayons to collect pajamas for kids in need until March 15. Together, we hope to collect 10,000 pairs of new PJs!
In collaboration with the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) and Simmons University School of Library and Information Science, we are excited to announce the Library Summit on Social Cohesion! This in-person event will provide a nourishing day for library staff to strengthen relationships within our profession and to support our important role fostering social connection in our communities. The theme of the summit is: Together We Thrive: Libraries as Catalysts for Social Cohesion. Registration is required.
Book challenges are not new; but in the past few years, book challenges have been occurring in record numbers. According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were 45 book challenges in Massachusetts in 2022 affecting 57 titles. Thatās more than the past 9 years (2013-2021) combined which totaled 38 challenges. Nationwide, ALA reported 1,270 book challenges in 2022, up significantly from 350 in 2019.
To date, no books have been banned in Massachusetts, however the Joint Task Force for Intellectual Freedom, with members from the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA), Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), Massachusetts Library System (MLS), the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) were interested in whether the challenges were having other impacts on library services.
In July 2023 the task force conducted an informal survey to better understand the impact book challenges are having on library services and staff. The survey was open to library directors at all types of libraries who were asked to report on activity from June 30, 2022 to July 1, 2023.
Respondents by library type: Public: 199
School: 35
Academic: 2
Special: 1
Significant Findings:
11 public libraries with a total of 59 challenges (one library had 32) were not reported to ALA, MLA, or MSLA during June 30,2022 to July 1, 2023.
Nearly 25% of school and public librarian respondents combined reported being harassed on social media; 22% reported being harassed via email; 18% report being harassed in person related to book challenges or program challenges.
48.5% of school library respondents reported that they reconsidered displays and books or items featured due to negativity surrounding book challenges.
18% of public library respondents reported that they eased up on publicizing an event which may be considered controversial.
