2017 News Releases
November 08, 2017 - Residents Celebrate the Opening of the New Hopkinton Library
On Friday, October 27, residents gathered to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Hopkinton Public Library. The expansion and renovation was funded in part by a $4,533,000 Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)....
READ MOREAugust 11, 2017 - Residents Celebrate New Scituate Library
On July 18, 2017, residents and officials in Scituate gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of their new library. The expansion and renovation was funded in part by a $4,985,480 Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)....
READ MOREAugust 11, 2017 - Leicester Breaks Ground on Library Renovation
On July 20, the town of Leicester celebrated the groundbreaking of their library renovation. The $8.9 million project is funded in part through a $4.2 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP)....
READ MOREAugust 11, 2017 - The MBLC Elects New Officers
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) elected new officers to serve for FY2018 at its Board Meeting on July 13, 2017....
READ MOREAugust 03, 2017 - MBLC Announces Statewide Patron Survey
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is conducting a statewide survey to better understand who uses Massachusetts public libraries, and why they use them....
READ MOREJuly 18, 2017 - Governor Vetoes Center for the Book; Maintains Funding in other Library Lines
On Monday, July 17, 2017 Governor Charlie Baker signed a $39.4 billion budget for FY2018 that included $320 million in spending vetoes. Funding to Massachusetts Center for the Book was among those vetoes. The budget is based on revised tax revenue projections for FY2018 that are $749 million less than the baselines use...
READ MOREJuly 13, 2017 - MBLC Awards Federal Grants to 42 Local Libraries
At its July 13, 2017 Board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded $468,102 in 42 grants to public, school, special, and academic libraries across the Commonwealth under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) which is funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Se...
READ MOREJuly 13, 2017 - Baker-Polito Administration awards $67 Million in Construction Grants through MBLC
NEEDHAM – July 13, 2017 – Today, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded nine communities Provisional Construction Grants through the state-funded Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Twenty-four other communities have been placed on a waitlist and will receive ...
READ MOREJuly 11, 2017 - Library Line Items Lowered in Conference Committee Budget
On Friday, July 7, the Massachusetts Legislature approved the budget agreement made by the Conference Committee. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) saw dramatic reductions in funding compared to the final versions of both the House and Senate budgets....
READ MOREJune 23, 2017 - Stoughton Breaks Ground on New Library
On June 23, 2017 Stoughton residents and local and state officials came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Stoughton Public Library renovation and expansion. The $14.5 million project is funded in part through a $6.7 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) Public L...
READ MOREJune 12, 2017 - The MBLC Wants to Know, "What's Your Four?"
Reading just four books over the summer helps kids achieve academic success, that’s why the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), is asking residents “What’s Your Four?” First Lady of the Commonwealth Lauren Baker has already posted her four, and many more are expected to do the s...
READ MOREJune 02, 2017 - Increases for Library Lines in Final Senate Budget
On May 27, 2017 the Massachusetts State Senate passed its final version of the FY2018 budget. Included were increases to six of the line items that go directly to funding library services and resources. Not included in the final budget was funding for the Massachusetts Center for the Book (7000-9508)....
READ MOREMay 30, 2017 - The MBLC “Builds a Better World” with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum to celebrate President John F. Kennedy’s 100th birthday as part of the Library’s Centennial Celebration....
READ MOREMay 25, 2017 - Construction Underway at Woburn Public Library
On May 25, 2017 Woburn residents were joined by local and state officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Woburn Public Library construction project. The project, which is funded in part through a $9.9 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) Massachusetts Public Library C...
READ MOREMay 16, 2017 - Library Line Items Receive Increases in Senate Ways and Means Budget
On May 16, 2017 the Senate Committee on Ways and Means announced its FY2018 budget recommendation. Included were increases to six of the line items that go directly to funding library services and resources. Not included in the recommendation was funding for the Massachusetts Center for the Book (7000-9508)....
READ MOREMay 11, 2017 - Changes Give More Flexibility to State Aid Program
At its May Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) unanimously approved changes to the State Aid to Public Libraries Program. The program, which is voluntary, annually certifies public libraries who meet State Aid requirements. Certified libraries receive state funding that supports...
READ MOREMay 11, 2017 - Funding Constraints Result in Fewer Online Resources
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) recently announced that the MBLC has awarded contracts to Gale Cengage, Inc., ProQuest, Inc. and Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. for statewide online magazine, newspaper, e-reference and encyclopedia databases to begin on ...
READ MOREMay 10, 2017 - Summer Fun at the Library with the Boston Bruins
Since the summer of 2009, the Boston Bruins have been partnering with Massachusetts libraries to present “When You Read, You Score!” The summer reading program encourages children and teens to read over the summer months so they may avoid the "summer slide" and maintain skills they've learned over the acade...
READ MOREApril 28, 2017 - Webster Breaks Ground on New Library Building
On April 4, 2017, Webster residents, officials, and librarians gathered as they broke ground on construction of their brand new library. The project is funded in part by a $7,567,411 grant through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program. This project has...
READ MOREApril 28, 2017 - James Lonergan named New MBLC Director
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce James Lonergan as its new Director. “It is with great pleasure that we welcome James to the MBLC,” said Mary Ann Cluggish, MBLC Chair. “His depth of knowledge and understanding of how libraries work combined with his nation...
READ MOREApril 27, 2017 - House Adopts FY2018 Budget
On Tuesday, April 25, the Massachusetts House of Representatives adopted its version of the FY2018 state spending bill. Included in the final version of the budget was increased funding for four library line items and the addition of funding for the Massachusetts Center for the Book....
READ MOREApril 10, 2017 - State Aid Receives Increase in House Ways and Means Budget
Earlier today, the House Committee on Ways and Means announced its FY2018 budget recommendation. State Aid to Public Libraries (Account 7000-9501) received an increase of 4.5% above what the Governor proposed in his budget, taking the funding from $9,090,000 to $9,500,000. In the FY2018 Legislative Agenda, the MBLC req...
READ MOREMarch 30, 2017 - Libraries Help Collect Record Amount of Pajamas
To honor the 10th anniversary of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive, the lofty goal of collecting 10,000 pajamas for children in need was set. With help from Massachusetts libraries, this goal was surpassed, and a total of 12,150 PJs and $5,304 were collected, a new record for the drive....
READ MOREMarch 23, 2017 - Governor Reappoints Commissioner Resnick
Commissioner and Board Vice-Chair N. Janeen Resnick has been reappointed by Governor Charlie Baker to a five-year term on the nine-member Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Her reappointment is the second by Governor Baker, and keeps together one of the most active groups of Commissioners the MBLC has...
READ MOREMarch 17, 2017 - President’s Budget includes Elimination of Institute of Museum and Library Services
On March 16, 2017, President Donald Trump released his preliminary budget proposal which includes the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS is an independent federal agency that provides Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants to library agencies in all 50 states, including ...
READ MOREMarch 09, 2017 - Commonwealth eBook Collections moves past Beta Phase
The Commonwealth eBook Collection (CEC) has dropped its beta status after the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) voted unanimously for the CEC to go live. “The CEC has made significant progress in making eBooks easier to access,” said MBLC Chair Mary Ann Cluggish. “Perhaps just...
READ MOREFebruary 23, 2017 - Library Renovation and Expansion Begins in Sherborn
On January 28, 2017 Sherborn residents gathered with local and state officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Sherborn Library....
READ MOREFebruary 21, 2017 - State Aid Awards for FY2017
At its February Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved the final group of libraries that met all requirements for the State Aid to Public Libraries program. To date, 344 communities have been certified and more than $4,414,490 has been awarded in state aid funding. This is rough...
READ MOREJanuary 27, 2017 - First Lady Lauren Baker Kicks Off the 10th Annual Boston Bruins PJ Drive
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce that First Lady of the Commonwealth Lauren Baker will kick off the 10th annual Boston Bruins Pajama drive at the Children’s Library of the Boston Public Library’s Central Library in Copley Square on February 1st. She will be join...
READ MOREFebruary 17, 2017 - Eastham Residents Welcome New Library
On February 4, 2017, the residents of Eastham gathered to dedicate their brand new library. The two and a half year project cost $9,154,842 to complete, and was funded in part by a $4,331,923 Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)....
READ MOREJanuary 27, 2017 - Governor Baker Releases Budget Proposal
On January 25th, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker released his $40.5 billion FY2018 budget, an overall spending increase of 4.3% over FY2017. The seven line items overseen by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) all received a 1% increase, for a total budget increase of $251,671. This is the firs...
READ MOREJanuary 14, 2017 - MBLC Names Members of the Director’s Search Committee
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) today announced the members of the MBLC Director’s Search Committee, which will assist with the hiring of the next director of the Board of Library Commissioners. The Committee is chaired by MBLC Commissioner Jan Resnick. The search begins after Dianne Carty...
READ MOREJanuary 13, 2017 - MBLC Director Announces Retirement
At the January 5, 2017 Board Meeting, Dianne Carty, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), announced her plans to retire in May, 2017. “Dianne’s work has strengthened the MBLC and positioned the agency to excel in the challenging landscape of library services in the 21st centur...
READ MOREJanuary 05, 2017 - MBLC’s Strategic Planning Process is Underway
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce that its strategic planning process is underway. “Since our inception 125 years ago, the MBLC’s core work has centered on ensuring that all Massachusetts residents have equal access to library resources and services, but there ha...
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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