{"id":1677,"date":"2025-03-27T22:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T02:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/?p=1677"},"modified":"2025-04-08T11:53:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T15:53:37","slug":"mblc-service-update-march-27-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/2025\/03\/27\/mblc-service-update-march-27-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"MBLC Service Update –\u00a0March 27, 2025\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

\ud83d\udd59 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on April 3rd<\/sup> <\/strong>(Hybrid)<\/em>\u00a0
Contact: Rachel Masse<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The regular monthly board meeting<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, April 3rd<\/sup>, 2025,<\/em> at the MBLC Office<\/strong>, 90 Canal Street, Boston.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udce2 PRESS RELEASE: Reed Leads Bipartisan Effort to Preserve Support for Public Libraries & Museums<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full press release at the MBLC Blog.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

\ud83d\udcdc<\/strong> MA250: Reading the Revolution\u2013<\/strong>Send us your suggestions<\/strong><\/a>!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Courtney Andree (MCB)<\/a>, June Thammasnong<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udccb <\/strong>MA250 Reading the Revolution Suggestions Form<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddf0<\/strong> <\/strong>MA250 Reading the Revolution Toolkit<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong><\/a>, a two-year campaign organized by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please send us your ideas and suggestions for “revolutionary” books, journal articles and online resources that you’d like us to consider!<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f B&T Connect Training <\/strong>(Online) <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Cate Merlin<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, March 27<\/strong><\/a>th<\/sup><\/strong><\/a> at 2pm – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83c\udf08 <\/strong>Special Populations Deep Dive: Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth <\/strong>(Online)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Ally Dowds<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, April 2 at 2PM – Registration & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  Registration is required.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udcc5 <\/strong>Library Summit on Social Cohesion: April 11, 2025 from 10AM to 3:30PM at Devens Common Center<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Jack Martin (MLS)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registration & More Information<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 <\/strong>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<\/em>.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83e\udd1d <\/strong>Library Advisory Office Hours<\/strong> <\/strong>(Online)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Al Hayden<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday, April 14 at 9AM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday, April 28 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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!  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udcc8 <\/strong>Census Data for Libraries \u2013 A Deeper Dive <\/strong>(Online)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Al Hayden<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, April 15 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this workshop you will learn how to find population and demographic data for various geographies, using data.census.gov, the Census Bureau\u2019s premiere online data platform. Understanding community characteristics can help inform and prioritize the need for library services, funding, and programs.  You will learn how to customize a search to find data tables on community population, demographics, socio-economic, and housing data.  We will provide a live demonstration of data.census.gov and show you how to use maps, charts, and access various data tables that can be downloaded and shared. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udde8\ufe0f <\/strong>Preservation Office Hours<\/strong> <\/strong>(Online)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Jess Colati<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, April 8 at 10AM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, April 22 at 10AM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open to all interested in ensuring safe and stable storage and improving collection management for your library or organization\u2019s preservation projects.  Connect with the MBLC\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udcac State Aid Office Hours <\/strong>(Online)<\/em>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Cate Merlin<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, April 16 at 9AM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, April 30 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udcc8 <\/strong>Introduction\/Overview of the State Aid Program <\/strong>(Online)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Jen Inglis,<\/a> Cate Merlin<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, April 10 at 10AM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, April  24 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These sessions are geared towards new and\/or acting directors to provide an introduction to and overview of the State Aid to Public Libraries program, and the requirements that need to be met in order to qualify for State Aid to Public Libraries funds. This is not a workshop about how to fill out the surveys\/forms- ARIS and Financial Report workshops will be held beginning in the early summer. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udc99 <\/strong>Participate in the Empowered by Libraries Campaign!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: June Thammasnong,<\/a> Celeste Bruno<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddf0 <\/strong>Campaign Toolkit<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MBLC is collecting stories of impact from your patrons at LoveMassLibraries.com<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>that will help demonstrate the importance and impact of our Commonwealth\u2019s libraries to state representatives and legislators during the legislative budget season and beyond.  Learn more about how your library can participate with the Empowered by Libraries Toolkit<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f <\/strong>ESOL Roundtable Discussion <\/strong>(Online)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Ally Dowds<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, April 30 at 1PM – Registration & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with literacy coordinators and library staff to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build a supportive community. Whether you\u2019re an experienced educator, a new ESOL coordinator, or a librarian<\/strong> developing services and collections, this roundtable provides a forum to come together for meaningful discussion and resource sharing. Bring your questions, challenges, and successes! <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f\u270f\ufe0fFortifying Your Library Blog Series <\/strong>with Al Hayden: <\/strong>Patron Rights & Responsibility<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having well-defined policies is more crucial than ever to ensure libraries serve their communities effectively. In the latest installment of \"\u2728\"Fortifying Your Library \"\u2728\", MBLC Library Advisory Specialist Al Hayden takes a deep dive into the policies that protect patron rights.  To read more, visit the MBLC Blog.<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>  <\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

\ud83d\udd59 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on May 1<\/strong>st<\/sup><\/strong> <\/strong>(Hybrid)<\/em> 
Contact: Rachel Masse<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The regular monthly board meeting<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, May 1<\/em><\/strong>st<\/sup><\/em><\/strong>, 2025,<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong>at the MBLC Office<\/strong>, 90 Canal Street, Boston.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\ud83d\udd59 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on April 3rd (Hybrid)\u00a0Contact: Rachel Masse\u00a0 The regular monthly board meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10AM on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, at the MBLC Office, 90 Canal Street, Boston.\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\udce2 PRESS RELEASE: Reed Leads Bipartisan Effort to Preserve Support for Public Libraries & Museums  […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[285],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-service-update"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1677"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1678,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677\/revisions\/1678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}