{"id":2221,"date":"2025-12-05T16:43:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T21:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/?p=2221"},"modified":"2025-12-09T08:37:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:37:16","slug":"litn-nov25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/2025\/12\/05\/litn-nov25\/","title":{"rendered":"Libraries in the News &#8211; November 2025 \ud83d\udcf0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong><em>Library News from Across the Commonwealth and the Nation*<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have a news story you\u2019d like to share? Please email the link to MBLC Communications Specialist <a href=\"mailto:june.thammasnong@mass.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">June Thammasnong,<\/a> thank you!&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-273e3985-4f45-4847-9653-ae3c9cab26db\" href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FINAL-Libraries-in-the-News-November-2025.pdf\">PDF Libraries in the News &#8211; November 2025<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FINAL-Libraries-in-the-News-November-2025.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-273e3985-4f45-4847-9653-ae3c9cab26db\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Local News \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>MBLC Starts Federal Program Rebuild\u00a0 <\/strong>\u2013 MBLC Press Release (12\/5\/2025)\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On December 3, 2025, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced it had\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imls.gov\/news\/statement-agencys-reinstatement-terminated-imls-grants\">reinstated all federal grants<\/a>\u00a0which were terminated due to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/03\/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy\/\">Executive Order 14238<\/a>\u00a0signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025. The goal of the executive order was to eliminate IMLS &#8220;to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/news\/news-releases\/2025\/nr251205.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full press release at MBLC website<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>$5.4 Million Library Construction Grant Awarded to Blandford&nbsp; <\/strong>\u2013 MBLC Press Release (12\/4\/2025)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At its December board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded a $5.4 million <a href=\"https:\/\/guides.mblc.state.ma.us\/ld.php?content_id=70386863&amp;_gl=1*1p8at24*_ga*MTM5NjQyMTkwNi4xNzUwODEwOTA2*_ga_PE12MXH8ZC*czE3NjQxMjcyMjckbzQzJGcxJHQxNzY0MTI4NDQ3JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Small Population library construction grant<\/a> to the Town of Blandford for the renovation and expansion of the Porter Memorial Library as part of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Small population grants are awarded to municipalities with populations less than 2,500.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/news\/news-releases\/2025\/nr251204.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full press release at MBLC website<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>\u2018Free expression\u2019 bill lays out process for book access, removal <\/strong>\u2013 State House News Service via The Berkshire Eagle (11\/6\/2025)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senate Democrats on Thursday scheduled for action legislation to address book bans and strengthen protections for public transit workers who experience violence on the job.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/RNWDz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full article via The Berkshire Eagle<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/Uhshp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Senate to take up book ban restrictions<\/strong><\/a>\u2014The Eagle Tribune (11\/7\/2025)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegardnernews.com\/story\/news\/regional\/2025\/11\/20\/worcester-library-backs-state-legislation-to-shield-challenged-books\/87353113007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Worcester library backs state legislation to shield \u2018challenged\u2019 books<\/strong><\/a>\u2014<em>Worcester Telegram &amp; Gazette<\/em> (11\/20\/2025)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theworcesterguardian.org\/f\/senate-moves-to-shield-libraries-from-political-book-bans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Senate moves to shield libraries from political book bans<\/strong>\u2014<\/a> <em>The Worcester Guardian<\/em> (11\/21\/2025)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>State Senate OKs Feeney\u2019s bill to improve library access to digital resources<\/strong>\u2014<em>The Foxboro Reporter<\/em> (11\/20\/2025)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to help Massachusetts Public Libraries more accessibly provide in-demand digital resources such as eBooks and audiobooks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>State Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxboro, is the lead sponsor of the bill, as well as the Senate Chair of the Library Legislative Caucus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thesunchronicle.com\/foxboro_reporter\/news\/local_news\/state-senate-oks-feeneys-bill-to-improve-library-access-to-digital-resources\/article_c26599f0-8b12-41f0-8182-cb1441e92cfa.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full article from the Foxboro Reporter<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/northstarreporter.com\/2025\/11\/20\/library-legislation-would-examine-digital-material-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Library legislation would examine digital material costs<\/strong><\/a>\u2014<em>The North Star Reporter<\/em> (11\/20\/2025)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Signed steel beam placed in Fitchburg library under construction <\/strong>\u2013<em>Sentintel &amp; Enterprise <\/em>(11\/23\/2025)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FITCHBURG \u2014 Friday\u2019s momentous occasion in the city marked another chapter in the library renovation project.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>State and local officials, members of the library project\u2019s campaign committee, members of the business community and others were invited to sign a steel beam that was then lifted by a crane and put solidly into place at the construction site of the new library that is scheduled to be completed next year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/CEaPQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full article from Sentinel &amp; Enterprise<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/videoplayer.telvue.com\/player\/yycCAZPb0NN3zj2o5qio-YFMNC43NjCG\/media\/988897\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Fitchburg Public Library Topping-Off Ceremony \u2013 11.21.2025<\/strong><\/a><strong>&#8211;<\/strong>&#8211; Fitchburg Access Television (11\/12\/2025)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Comerford talks grants, health insurance and legislative priorities with Erving officials <\/strong>\u2013<em>Greenfield Recorder <\/em>(11\/13\/2025)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ERVING \u2014 State Sen. Jo Comerford joined Erving officials this week to discuss the town\u2019s successes and challenges, including recent grant awards and the impact of rising health insurance costs.&nbsp; One of the main pieces of legislation Comerford mentioned is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mma.org\/advocacy\/mma-legislative-package\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bill<\/a> that would establish a municipal and public safety building authority to help towns afford improvements to or replacement of municipal buildings. Comerford said it would be similar to the state Board of Library Commissioners\u2019 Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/recorder.com\/2025\/11\/13\/comerford-town-infrastructure-legislation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full article from the Greenfield Recorder<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Swansea&#8217;s $19M library is open to the public.&nbsp; Take a peek inside the \u2018beautiful\u2019 space <\/strong>\u2013<em>The Herald News <\/em>(11\/12\/2025)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SWANSEA \u2014 The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swansealibrary.org\/slider\/welcome-back\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Swansea Free Public Library<\/a> is officially buzzing with activity at its Main Street location that served roughly 75 patrons after just four hours after opening on Nov. 10.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Swansea\u2019s library construction project was supported in part by an MBLC Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) grant.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldnews.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/11\/12\/swansea-free-public-library-main-street-building-opens-after-expansion-project-ma-2025\/87205661007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full article from The Herald News<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Senator Jake Oliveira receives award for library advocacy<\/strong>\u2013<em>WWLP<\/em> (11\/8\/2025)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BOSTON (WWLP) \u2013 State Senator Jake Oliveira (Ludlow-D) has received the Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast Award in recognition of his leadership in strengthening public libraries across the Commonwealth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwlp.com\/news\/massachusetts\/senator-jake-oliveira-receives-award-for-library-advocacy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full article on WWLP.com<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners honors Wellesley\u2019s Mary Ann Cluggish <\/strong>\u2013 <em>The Swellesley Report <\/em>(11\/6\/2025)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Congrats to Wellesley\u2019s <strong>Mary Ann Cluggish<\/strong>, this year\u2019s recipient of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners\u2019 Elizabeth P. Sohier Award. A ceremony honoring Cluggish and others was held on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the State House.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theswellesleyreport.com\/2025\/11\/massachusetts-board-of-library-commissioners-honors-wellesleys-mary-ann-cluggish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full article at The Swellesley Report<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>What about YOUR Library? <\/strong>\u2013 Al Hayden, <em>MBLC Blog<\/em> (11\/21\/2025)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve followed me all the way down this experimental rabbit hole, thank you!&nbsp; Here\u2019s what we\u2019ve learned about what happens in libraries in an economic downturn:&nbsp; Massachusetts libraries did more with less.&nbsp; I\u2019ve created an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canva.com\/design\/DAGyar6VhX4\/h1wKtlo7YojEUnAYqfprnA\/edit?utm_content=DAGyar6VhX4&amp;utm_campaign=designshare&amp;utm_medium=link2&amp;utm_source=sharebutton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">editable infographic template<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1xQ57rvYEI9Fg9RipIvgVMv_fa-gkD2g1QTy-4pl4-iE\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accompanying spreadsheet<\/a> that you can use to learn and share more about what a recession may look like for your library.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/2025\/11\/21\/fyl-18\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full post on the MBLC Blog<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Library on Track for Early 2026 Opening <\/strong>\u2013 <em>The Belmont Voice<\/em> (10\/17\/2025)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The municipal rink is weeks shy of its grand opening, and the new library, located just across the street, will be following in its footsteps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s pretty exciting,\u201d said Library Director Peter Struzziero. \u201cI\u2019m working on my 11th year, and I\u2019ve been working on the project the whole time and we\u2019ll be open in less than three months.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/belmontvoice.org\/library-on-track-for-early-2026-opening\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full post on The Belmont Voice<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Plans to replace the library in Otis are back on track after an attempt to block the project failed <\/strong>\u2013 <em>The Berkshire Eagle<\/em> (10\/29\/2025)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>OTIS \u2014 Plans to build a new library are on track after a citizens petition seeking to stop the project failed to receive enough support.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/dMMx7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full article from The Berkshire Eagle<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--1\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National News <\/strong><strong>\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>ALA welcomes reinstatement of all federal IMLS grants to libraries<\/strong>\u2013 American Library Association Press Release (12\/3\/2025)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Washington \u2013 Today, the American Library Association (ALA) greeted an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imls.gov\/news\/statement-agencys-reinstatement-terminated-imls-grants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">announcement<\/a> by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that it had reinstated all the agency\u2019s grants, including those to libraries and library organizations across the country. The grant reinstatements come as a direct result of a November 21 federal court decision in a lawsuit brought against President Trump by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/news\/2025\/11\/court-permanently-blocks-trumps-executive-order-dismantle-federal-agency-americas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">21 states<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/news\/2025\/12\/ala-welcomes-reinstatement-all-federal-imls-grants-libraries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to full press release via American Library Association<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>A Major Court Win for IMLS, Libraries <\/strong><em>\u2013 Book Riot <\/em>(11\/24\/2025)&nbsp;<br>U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell ruled in favor of 21 state attorneys general suing Donald Trump over the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and several other small federal agencies. This permanent injunction means that the Trump administration cannot do further harm to the IMLS.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bookriot.com\/21-attorney-generals-lawsuit-decision\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to the full article from Book Riot<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/news\/2025\/11\/court-permanently-blocks-trumps-executive-order-dismantle-federal-agency-americas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Court permanently blocks Trump\u2019s executive order to dismantle federal agency for America\u2019s libraries<\/strong><\/a>\u2014<em>American Library Association<\/em> Press Release (11\/21\/2025)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/reorganization\/2025\/11\/federal-court-blocks-trump-administrations-plan-to-scrap-4-small-agencies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Federal court blocks Trump administration\u2019s plan to scrap 4 small agencies<\/strong><\/a>\u2014 <em>Federal News Network<\/em> (11\/26\/2025)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Supreme Court bars Trump from firing Library of Congress official for now <\/strong><em>\u2013 CNN <\/em>(11\/26\/2025)&nbsp;<br>The Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from replacing a top official at the Library of Congress for now, deferring a decision on his emergency appeal until it resolves a pair of related cases.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/11\/26\/politics\/supreme-court-library-of-congress-copyright\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to the full article from CNN<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Federal Cuts, Immigration Raids and a Slowing Economy Hit Rural Libraries<\/strong><em> \u2013 The New York Times <\/em>(11\/10\/2025)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cole Leinbach, a librarian in Tieton, Wash., population 1,610, watched intently as a 7-year-old girl hunkered down with a book in a corner of the town\u2019s one-room library. Her brother, 4, had opened a board game searching for potential toys. Their mother talked quietly on her phone in Spanish.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is what libraries are supposed to be,\u201d he said, \u201cjust a place a mom can go with her kids for an hour to hang out and get some kind of enriching entertainment.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archive.today\/2Yyyl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to the full article from The New York Times<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8 Best American Cities for People Who Love Libraries <\/strong><em>\u2013 Mental Floss <\/em>(11\/30\/2025)&nbsp;<br>Travel to these cities to explore the gorgeous\u2014and extensive\u2014public libraries.&nbsp; The list includes Boston, MA.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalfloss.com\/geography\/cities\/best-american-cities-libraries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link to the full article from Mental Floss<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide is-style-wide--2\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.196), 16px);\"><em>*Links provided to external (non-MBLC) news stories are done so as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the MBLC. MBLC bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Library News from Across the Commonwealth and the Nation* <\/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":[296],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-litn"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221","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=2221"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2238,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2221\/revisions\/2238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}