NEWS RELEASE

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) direct grants to public libraries at its July 7, 2022, board meeting. Federal LSTA grants are funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“Each community in Massachusetts is unique and has its own local needs,” said Robert Favini, Head of Library Advisory and Development at the MBLC. “These grants allow libraries to address those local needs directly, whether its programming for children and teens, helping residents find a path to citizenship, or protecting the town’s historic documents and artifacts.”

Twenty-one libraries received grants for a total amount of $220,085 awarded. Grants are open to libraries of all types that meet the eligibility requirements.

Members of the MBLC’s State Advisory Council on Libraries review and evaluate grant applications and make funding recommendations to the MBLC.

The complete list of grant recipients is below along with highlights from a selection of this year’s projects. 

In Gloucester, the Sawyer Free Library’s Young Gloucester Scientists Club will offer a program for elementary and middle school students that supports learning both in and outside of the Library through continued access to physical collections, materials, and programming. Circulating kits and library produced digital content will provide participants with fun learning activities to do at home as well as in-person family programming that introduces them to Gloucester community members with careers across a variety of STEM fields. This project will not only allow for a hands-on approach to learning and build community connections, but it will also encourage youth to actively think like scientists by observing, questioning, and experimenting with the world around them.

The Turner Free Library in Randolph is working to address its town’s high rates of food insecurity and the considerable barriers to accessing convenient, affordable, healthy, and culturally preferred food. The Reimagining Culinary Literacy in Randolph project will offer the Randolph community increased access to information about local resources as well as workshops and events that center the cultural heritage foodways representative of Randolph’s diverse, international community. Turner Free Library will work with community partners to promote community-wide connections through culinary literacy that honors traditional cultural foods and traditional knowledge systems.

Forbes Library in Northampton’s extensive collection of fine and decorative arts has been evolving more rapidly in recent years, out of its commitment to inclusive, diverse, and current collection development. The value of these acquisitions depends on them being accessible to users in and out of the library building. This project will improve access to the collection for both in-person and remote visitors. Accessible large-print labels with audio descriptions will be created and available for those engaging with the art collection in the physical library. High quality digital photographs of art and objects in the collection will be produced and included in the online Argus CMS portal, allowing visitors from around the world to engage with the collection.

In addition to the direct library grant program, the MBLC uses LSTA funds to support statewide programs and services including summer reading programs, research databases, the statewide eBook program, the Commonwealth Catalog and mass.gov/libraries which has information and resources for residents.  LSTA is administered on the federal level by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in the Commonwealth by the MBLC. More information about LSTA can be found on the Board's website at www.mass.gov/mblc.

IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Their mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. IMLS’ grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.