Second Round of FY2024 State Aid Awards Approved by Board
December 14, 2023
June Thammasnong
Communications Specialist
1-800-952-7403 x208
june.thammasnong@mass.gov
At its December Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved 147 municipalities that met all requirements for certification in the FY2024 State Aid to Public Libraries Program. These libraries join the 131 libraries that were approved in November. State Aid program grants for this second round total $4.2 million. Certified libraries receive half of their grant awards following the Commonwealth’s disbursement schedule, with the remaining amount released toward the end of the grant cycle in late spring.
State Aid Awards to Public Libraries encourage the support and improvement of public library services, including purchasing new technology and furniture, and compensates for differences in town and municipal funding capacities.
A third round of State Aid Awards will be granted in January 2024 for all municipalities that are not applying for a waiver. Commissioners will review waivers for municipalities that do not meet the Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR). The MAR is funding from the municipality allocated to support their library.
Funding from the State Aid to Public Library Program directly supports public library services in towns and cities across the Commonwealth. The reciprocity that comes with library certification in the State Aid program is often what library visitors value most. It allows library patrons to use any State Aid certified library in the Commonwealth and gives them access to more than 59 million items available through the shared library system.
More information about the benefits of the State Aid to Public Libraries Program is available on the MBLC website.
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.