NEWS RELEASE

At its November Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved 136 municipalities that met all requirements for the FY2025 State Aid to Public Libraries Program. State Aid program grants for FY2025 total $20 million, nearly double what libraries received in FY2020. Municipalities rely on this local aid to keep libraries open and to support technology, staffing, and other local needs.

After 15 years of needing a waiver to be certified in the program, Lawrence Public Library was among the libraries certified as meeting full State Aid Program requirements. MBLC staff worked closely with Lawrence library staff and local officials as part of the MBLC's 5-Year Waiver Policy which helps libraries and their municipalities increase the municipal funding appropriation to the required level. Lawrence Public Library will receive over $240,000 in state aid funding.

"Through this process, I have developed an even deeper appreciation and advocacy for libraries and the critical role they play for all. We are incredibly grateful to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for their unwavering support throughout this journey," said Janelle Abreu, Director of the Lawrence Public Library. "Through the combined efforts of our Mayor, Brian A. De Pena, the Board of Trustees, City Council, and our tirelessly dedicated administrative team, I am thrilled that the City of Lawrence is officially out of waiver status for the first time in nearly two decades. This achievement has been an opportunity for us to educate ourselves on what a library truly is, the significance of certification, and the potential impact on a community without it," she added.

Subsequent groups of municipalities meeting all requirements will be presented to the Board for approval during the December 2024 and January 2025 board meetings. At the January 2025 meeting, Commissioners will also consider waivers for municipalities that do not meet the Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR), which is the required level of funding provided by the municipality that supports the library. Any library with a disproportionate cut to its budget will go before the Board during the January 2025 board meeting to present information on the reductions and how the library will be funded in the future.

Certified libraries will receive half of their grant awards at the time of certification with the remaining amount released late spring. Funding from the State Aid to Public Library Program goes directly to support public library services. The reciprocity that comes with library certification in the State Aid program is often what patrons value most. It allows them to use any State Aid certified library in the Commonwealth and gives patrons access to more than 59 million items available through the shared library system. State Aid to Public Libraries (7000-9501) is a priority in the FY2026 Legislative Agenda.