2015 News Releases
December 04, 2015 - Chairman Shesko Steps Down
At the December 3, 2015 meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), Commissioner Gregory Shesko announced that he was stepping down from his position as chairman and member of the Executive Committee seven months early due to health concerns. Mr. Shesko plans to stay on the Board as one of its n...
READ MORENovember 12, 2015 - MBLC Awards First Round of State Aid
At its November Board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved the disbursement of FY 2016 State Aid awards, totaling $464,420 to 56 municipalities that have met State Aid to Public Libraries Program requirements. The awards are roughly half of the total state aid funding that these lib...
READ MORENovember 10, 2015 - First Commissioner Awards Presented
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is celebrating its 125th year. On May 28, 1890, thanks to the efforts of Bostonian Elizabeth Putnam Sohier, Governor John Q. A. Brackett signed "An Act to Promote the Establishment and Efficiency of Free Public Libraries" [Acts of 1890, chapter 347]. The act created the ...
READ MORENovember 10, 2015 - MBLC Announces New LSTA Grants
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce the FY 2017 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant round. The MBLC uses federal LSTA funding to provide direct grants to libraries that allow them to offer innovative services to local residents....
READ MOREOctober 16, 2015 - Library Network Fees to Increase
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) listened with concern during their monthly board meeting as MBLC Library Information Systems Specialist Paul Kissman announced that due to state funding cuts of nearly 25% to the MBLC's Technology and Resource Sharing line item (account 9506), funding that support...
READ MOREOctober 06, 2015 - Salisbury Opens New Library Building
On Friday, October 2, the wait ended for the people of Salisbury as they cut the ribbon on their brand new library. The original 1956 building was demolished and replaced with a new modern facility in the same location, increasing the space from 3,047 to 16,027 square feet....
READ MORESeptember 15, 2015 - Bruins Summer Reading Prizes Awarded
Just in time for the Boston Bruins' first preseason game, young readers across the Commonwealth received Bruins prizes for their participation in statewide summer reading programs at public libraries....
READ MORESeptember 10, 2015 - Scituate Public Library Breaks Ground
On September 1, excited residents of the town of Scituate gathered as the Scituate Public Library broke ground on its renovation and expansion project. The project will add 7,000 square feet of space and update the current library building....
READ MOREJuly 01, 2015 - MBLC Celebrates its 125th Anniversary
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is celebrating its 125th year....
READ MOREJuly 09, 2015 - MBLC Awards More Than $300,000 in Direct Grants to Libraries
At its July 9, 2015 board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded $310,149 in 29 grants to public, academic, school and special libraries across the Commonwealth under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)....
READ MOREJuly 09, 2015 - Boston Bruins and Summer Library Fun
The Boston Bruins have teamed up with the libraries across the Commonwealth to encourage kids and teens to keep reading over the summer....
READ MOREJuly 09, 2015 - MBLC Awards $7.8 Million in Construction Grants
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce that it has awarded General Construction Provisional Grants to two communities as part of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Those communities are:...
READ MOREJuly 08, 2015 - Conference Committee Releases FY 2016 Budget Released
The State Budget Conference Committee released their FY 2016 budget compromise on July 8, 2015. Technology and Resource Sharing (7000-9506) received a major reduction of $600,000. This is in addition to a reduction of $52,674 as a result of two 9C cuts that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) sustai...
READ MOREJune 01, 2015 - Five Libraries Receive Green Funding
Library projects in the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program that attain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification are receiving additional funding from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)....
READ MOREMay 27, 2015 - Senate Budget Complete
The Massachusetts State Senate has adopted its version of the FY 2016 state spending bill and has sent its budget on to conference committee. The Senate version of the bill increased funding by $675,879 compared to the final House version of the bill, and brought funding back up over the post 9c cut level....
READ MOREMay 20, 2015 - Everett's Shute Memorial Library Branch Reopens
On May 7, 2015, hundreds of Everett residents gathered at the rededication of the newly renovated Shute Memorial Library. Commissioner Carol B. Caro from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) congratulated residents on their newly renovated space. She spoke about the importance of branch libraries and...
READ MOREMay 13, 2015 - Senate Ways and Means Budget Recommendations Released
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means announced its FY 2016 budget recommendation on May 12, 2015. This recommendation increases what was passed by the House by $485,128 across all of the MBLC's line items....
READ MOREMay 01, 2015 - House Budget Complete
The Massachusetts House of Representatives has adopted its version of the FY 2016 state spending bill and has sent its budget on to the Senate. If the reductions recommended in the House budget carry through to the Senate, funding to libraries through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) will be cut ...
READ MOREApril 17, 2015 - House Ways and Means Budget Recommendations Released
The House Committee on Ways and Means announced its FY2016 budget recommendation on April 15, 2015. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) received an overall funding decrease of $1,163,741 from the original FY2015 budget. The levels are also lower than what was requested by MBLC in the FY2016 Legislat...
READ MOREApril 08, 2015 - Libraries Help Make PJ Drive a Success
The Boston Bruins and Cradles to Crayons are celebrating the success of the eighth annual PJ Drive....
READ MOREFebruary 13, 2015 - Fresh Look at State Aid
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners' (MBLC) State Aid to Public Libraries program affects every public library and library user across the Commonwealth. To ensure the continued success of the program, the MBLC recently began assessing the role of the program in improving library services....
READ MOREFebruary 12, 2015 - Reading Breaks Ground on New Library
The Reading community recently gathered with local and state officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Reading Public Library addition/renovation project....
READ MOREFebruary 05, 2015 - Roland Ochsenbein Appointed to Board
Roland A. Ochsenbein of Bolton has been appointed to serve on the nine-member Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Mr. Ochsenbein was appointed by Governor Patrick in December 2014....
READ MOREFebruary 04, 2015 - Increased FY 2015 Funding Benefits Small Libraries
Small public libraries that have struggled to be part of automated library networks will receive funding to support network membership through the newly created Small Libraries in Networks - New Participants program approved by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) at its January board meeting....
READ MORENews Releases By Year
For More Information & Press Inquiries
Celeste Bruno, Communications Director
617-725-1860 x208
857-488-6206 (Mobile)
celeste.bruno@mass.gov
June Thammasnong, Communications Specialist
617-725-1860 x240
857-488-7004 (Mobile)
june.thammasnong@mass.gov