{"id":1892,"date":"2025-06-25T12:39:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T16:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/?p=1892"},"modified":"2025-06-25T12:39:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T16:39:17","slug":"service-update-june-25-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/2025\/06\/25\/service-update-june-25-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Service Update – June 25, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
PDF MBLC Service Update – June 2025<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\ud83d\udd59 MBLC Monthly Board Meeting on July 10th <\/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, July 10th, 2025, <\/em>at the MBLC Office.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udcf0<\/strong> Governor Healey Appoints Kemarah Sika as MBLC Commissioner<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: June Thammasnong<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boston native Kemarah Sika has been appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve as a Commissioner for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).  The MBLC is a nine-member board responsible for organizing, developing and improving library services across the Commonwealth.  To read more about Commissioner Sika, visit the MBLC website.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udcf0<\/strong> 2025 Bruins Summer Reading Prizes to be Awarded to Libraries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: June Thammasnong<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer Library Programs play a significant role in keeping kids and teens connected to educational resources over the summer. Through the “When You Read, You Score!” Statewide Summer Library Program, the Boston Bruins encourage kids and teens to continue reading by awarding special prizes to participating public libraries across the Commonwealth.  To read more about this year’s prize winners, visit the MBLC Website.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udcc5 Supporting Library Patrons with Re-Employment Needs\u2014An Overview by MassHire <\/strong>(Online)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Thursday, June 26 at 10AM – Registration & More Information<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> across that state and a Rapid Response Team that provides early intervention re-employment services to employees affected by layoffs and closings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0fARIS Opens on Tuesday, July 1st<\/sup>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

State Aid ARIS & Financial Report season are upon us! The FY26 ARIS survey will open on July 1st and close on Friday, August 15th<\/strong>, and the FY26 Financial Report will open on August 4th and close on Friday, October 3rd. We are offering one more ARIS trainings this month, and Financial Report trainings will begin in August. Keep an eye out for information about ARIS-specific office hours and sign up for the <\/strong> State Aid Listserv<\/strong><\/a> for updates and information. <\/strong>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.<\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0fARIS Workshop <\/strong>(Online)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Wednesday, July 9 at 10AM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘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.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udde8\ufe0f Local History, Archives, and Preservation Office Hours<\/strong> <\/strong>(Online)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Tuesday, July 1 at 10AM – More Info & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, July 29 at 10AM – More Info & 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

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

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

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

Wednesday, July 23 at 2PM – More Information & Zoom Link<\/strong><\/a>  <\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/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<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\udd1d <\/strong>Fortifying Your Library: Protecting Your Library and Staff Through Policy <\/strong>(Online)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Al Hayden<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, July 9 at 2PM – More Information & Registration<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Libraries are in need of updated policies now more than ever. Strong policy is one of the best ways to protect library staff, prevent issues, and keep unpreventable issues from escalating too far. Join Al Hayden for this webinar, which will offer practical advice for revising your library’s policies with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n