NEWS RELEASE

Roland Ochsenbein Appointed to Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 05, 2015
Celeste Bruno
Communications Specialist
1-800-952-7403 x208
celeste.bruno@state.ma.us

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.

A publishing executive for more than 30 years, Mr. Ochsenbein's love for books, literature, reading and learning has led him to work closely with libraries. "I'm looking forward to working on issues that I am passionate about and that make a difference in people's lives," Mr. Ochsenbein said. "For me, that means issues relating to lifelong learning and providing a vibrant intellectual, cultural, and civic life across all communities. Libraries do that and I'm honored to serve on a board that is dedicated to ensuring that this continues and grows."

Mr. Ochsenbein has been an advocate for libraries on the local, state, and national levels for many years. As a library trustee, chair of the building planning committee, and co-chair of the construction committee, he played key leadership roles in the successful $7 million expansion and renovation of the Bolton Public Library which opened in 2010. He has served the MBLC as a member of the State Advisory Committee on Libraries, as a construction grant reviewer, and as a member of the search committee for the new MBLC director.

Professionally, he has worked as an executive and consultant in the educational, professional, and reference publishing fields for more than 30 years. He has been involved in the development and launch of several notable projects that are in widespread use in public, school, and academic libraries around the country, among them the first electronic reference product to be awarded the American Library Association's prestigious Dartmouth Medal (Pop Culture Universe, 2009).

Mr. Ochsenbein has been a resident of Massachusetts since 1984. He is a graduate of Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. A talented musician, he is also a member of the American Library Association, the Public Library Association, and served as a volunteer and consultant during the development of the prototype website for the Digital Public Library of America.

Established in 1890, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners was the first state library commission in the United States. The nine-member volunteer commission is appointed by the current governor. The MBLC supports statewide programming and innovation in libraries to ensure equal access to library services for every resident in the Commonwealth.

MBLC services include public library construction, preservation and disaster prevention, electronic resources, statewide resource sharing, and state and federal grants. The MBLC funds the Massachusetts Library System, the Library for the Commonwealth at Boston Public Library, Perkins Talking Book Library, the Talking Book Library at Worcester Public Library, and the Massachusetts Center for the Book. It also partially supports the nine automated library networks.

About MBLC

The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.