2018 News Releases
December 18, 2018 - Stoughton Celebrates New Library
On Saturday December 15, 2018 the new Stoughton Public Library opened to raves from residents. Old and young commented on how welcoming the new space is with one resident saying, “Stoughton deserves this.” Chair of the Board of Selectman Bob O’Regan called the new library the “soul of the ...
READ MORENovember 27, 2018 - Governor Appoints Gina Perille to MBLC
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to welcome Gina Perille of Boston, who has been appointed by Governor Charles D. Baker to serve on the nine-member board....
READ MORENovember 19, 2018 - MBLC Seeking New Construction Bond
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is seeking a new $250 million bond authorization to continue the successful Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). The new bond will fund the 18 projects that are currently on the MPLCP waitlist, a Planning and Design Grant Round and a new Constructio...
READ MORENovember 08, 2018 - MBLC Announces New LSTA Grants
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce the FY 2020 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 MORENovember 06, 2018 - 112 Libraries Certified in First Round State Aid
At its November Board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved the disbursement of the first round of FY 2019 State Aid awards totaling $1,559,545.88 to 112 municipalities that have met State Aid to Public Libraries Program requirements. The awards are roughly half of the total state ai...
READ MOREOctober 23, 2018 - East Forest Park Breaks Ground on New Library
The rainy weather did not dampen the spirits of those gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the East Forest Park Branch of the Springfield City Library on October 15, 2018. The project is funded in part by a $4.9m grant from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Project (MPLCP) through the Massachusetts B...
READ MOREOctober 23, 2018 - Monterey Celebrates Library Groundbreaking
On Saturday, October 6th, residents gathered with local and state representatives to celebrate the ground breaking of the new library in Monterey. The project is funded in part by a $1,855,675 grant from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Project (MPLCP) through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissione...
READ MOREOctober 21, 2018 - The MBLC Welcomes Les Ball
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is excited to welcome Leslie D. Ball of Scituate, who has been appointed by Governor Charles D. Baker to serve on the nine-member board. The MBLC is responsible for library services across the Commonwealth including the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Pr...
READ MOREOctober 11, 2018 - MBLC Adopts FY2020 Legislative Agenda
At its October Board Meeting the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) adopted the FY2020 Legislative Agenda. Funding to the MBLC impacts library services across the Commonwealth. “We appreciate the funding we received last year, but libraries need sustained funding in order to meet the needs of the...
READ MOREOctober 02, 2018 - Webster Dedicates New Library
On September 29, 2018 local and state officials joined Webster residents to celebrate the dedication of the Gladys E. Kelly Public Library. This $11.1 million project is part of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner’s (MBLC) Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Webster received a grant fro...
READ MOREOctober 01, 2018 - Bruins Summer Reading Prizes Awarded
With the start of hockey season right around the corner, young readers across the Commonwealth received Boston Bruins prizes based on their participation in the statewide summer reading programs at public libraries....
READ MOREAugust 10, 2018 - Governor Signs FY2019 Budget wih Increased Library Funding
Governor Charlie Baker has signed the FY2019 budget after the Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate passed the Conference Committee version. Included are increases to six of the line items that go directly to funding library services and resources....
READ MOREAugust 03, 2018 - Governor Appoints Abraham
Deborah V.H. Abraham of Needham has been appointed by Governor Charles D. Baker to serve on the nine-member Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). The MBLC is responsible for library services across the Commonwealth including the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, federal Library Services ...
READ MOREAugust 01, 2018 - North Dartmouth Breaks Ground
On July 17, 2018 local and state officials gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new North Dartmouth Public Library. The $11.8 million project is made possible in part through a $5.3 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner’s (MBLC) Massachusetts Public Library Construction Pro...
READ MOREJuly 17, 2018 - Bruins Players Kick Off Summer Reading in Waltham
On June 27, 2018 prospective Boston Bruins players kicked off the statewide summer library program at Waltham Public Library. Players Philip Beaulieu, Jack Becker, Mitchell Fossier, Daniel Vladar, Kyle Keyser, Lucas Ekestahl-Jonsson, Jakub Lauko, and Curtis Hall joined children and teens from Waltham and participated i...
READ MOREJuly 12, 2018 - MBLC’s Federal Grants Impact Local Communities
At its July 12, 2018 Board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded $451,058 in 40 grants to public and school libraries across the Commonwealth under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) which is funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. R...
READ MOREJuly 12, 2018 - MBLC Awards $28.7m in Construction Grants
At their July 12, 2018 board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners awarded provisional construction grants to the Greenfield Public Library in the amount of $9,378,183, the Hingham Public Library in the amount of $9,151,270, and the Marlborough Public Library in the amount of $10,186,626. The librar...
READ MOREJuly 12, 2018 - MBLC Elects Officers
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) elected new officers to serve for FY2019 at its Board Meeting on July 12, 2018....
READ MOREJuly 06, 2018 - Rosemary Waltos Retires
After nearly a decade at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), Construction Consultant Rosemary Waltos is retiring. As the head of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP), she assisted many communities in building or renovating public libraries. “New libraries are game-cha...
READ MOREJuly 05, 2018 - MBLC Preservation Specialist Gregor Trinkaus-Randall Announces his Retirement
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ Preservation Specialist Gregor Trinkaus-Randall is retiring after over 30 years of work for Massachusetts libraries and cultural institutions. Mr. Trinkaus-Randall came to the Board in 1988 and became nationally and internationally recognized for his work in preservat...
READ MOREJune 22, 2018 - Governor and Lt. Governor Encourage Massachusetts to Read this Summer
Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karen Polito have joined a growing number of elected officials, local celebrities and readings fans to declare their summer-reads as part of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) What’s your 4? campaign. The MBLC started the annual campaign in 2016 ...
READ MOREJune 11, 2018 - Networks Pilot Successful eBook Program
People have long been accustomed to getting print books from libraries across the Commonwealth. This kind of reciprocal borrowing may soon be possible with eBooks and eAudiobooks as well. Three automated library resource sharing networks representing over 100 public libraries: the Old Colony Library Network (OCLN), SAI...
READ MOREJune 08, 2018 - Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Releases “An Evolving Ecosystem” Report
“Massachusetts Public Libraries: An Evolving Ecosystem” provides a unique, first of its kind look at how and why residents use public libraries across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) commissioned this study in order to understand cooperative borrowing and use patter...
READ MOREJune 05, 2018 - Massachusetts Libraries Receive Increase in Final Senate Budget
The Massachusetts State Senate passed its final version of the FY2019 budget and included increases to six of the line items that go directly to funding library services and resources....
READ MOREMay 25, 2018 - Massachusetts Libraries and the Boston Bruins Team Up for Summer Fun
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) are again teaming up with the Boston Bruins for the annual “When You Read, You Score!” summer library program. The program encourages children and teens to read over the summer months in order to retain academic progress gained over the previous school...
READ MOREMay 11, 2018 - Senate Funds Five Line Items to the Amount Requested
On Thursday, May 10, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released their FY2019 budget. Five of the seven budget line items overseen by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) received the funding request by the Board in the FY2019 Legislative Agenda. The Massachusetts Center for the Book (7000-9508) ...
READ MOREApril 26, 2018 - Eastham Public Library Receives Library Building Award
The Eastham Public Library has been selected as one of six recipients of the 2018 American Institute of Architects (AIA) and American Library Association (ALA) Library Building Award for the design of their new building. Eastham is the third Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) grant recipient to w...
READ MOREApril 12, 2018 - Massachusetts Libraries are Top Collectors for PJ Drive
Massachusetts libraries collected donated pajamas throughout February and March as part of the annual Boston Bruins PJ Drive. 2018 marked the 11th year of the drive, and the second year of participation by the Department of Children and Families Wonderfund. The drive also benefited Cradles to Crayons who have been a pa...
READ MOREApril 12, 2018 - Requested Funding Given to Some Library Line Items
On Wednesday, April 11, the House Committee on Ways and Means released their $40.99 billion FY2019 budget, proposing a 3.1% increase in state spending. Three of the budget line items overseen by the MBLC were funded at the amount requested in the FY2019 legislative agenda. Two of the budget lines received a 1% increase...
READ MOREFebruary 05, 2018 - State Aid Awarded to 344 Libraries
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. FY2018 State Aid program grants total more than $9 million and were awarded to all of the 344 public libraries that applie...
READ MOREFebruary 05, 2018 - Robert Favini to Head up MBLC's LSTA and Trustee Programs
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce Robert Favini as the new Head of Public Library Advisory and Development. He will work with library trustees and friends, and will head up the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) grants and programs. “Rob’s diverse experience ...
READ MOREFebruary 01, 2018 - Erving and Monterey Awarded Construction Grants
At their February 1, 2018 board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners awarded provisional construction grant awards to the Erving Public Library in the amount of $2,720,146, and the Monterey Library in the amount of $1,855,675. Both libraries were placed on the construction waiting list during the J...
READ MOREJanuary 31, 2018 - Libraries support the Annual Bruins PJ Drive
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is once again teaming up with the Boston Bruins for the 11th Annual PJ Drive to benefit DCF Wonderfund and Cradles to Crayons. The Boston Bruins PJ Drive runs from February 1 through March 15, 2018. Libraries across the Commonwealth will be collecting new pairs of pajama...
READ MOREJanuary 24, 2018 - Governor Baker Releases Budget Proposal
Today Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker released his $40.9 billion FY2019 budget, proposing a 2.6% increase in state spending. Three of the seven budget line items overseen by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) received a 1% increase, one received an increase slightly less than 1% and the rest w...
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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