NEWS RELEASE

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce 18 libraries will receive a combined $93,000 as the FY2025 recipients of Explore Grants. The MBLC uses federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding to provide Explore Grants that improve library services, collections, and programs.

"Everyone is welcome at libraries and often libraries are among the first to recognize the needs of their communities. However, responding to needs may be limited by lack of funds," said Robert Favini, Head of Library Advisory and Development at the MBLC. "With Explore Grants libraries can take more immediate steps to address community needs and challenges. The grants are a great example of federal funding that makes significant local impact."

Explore Grants are open to all types of libraries: school, academic, public and special. Below are the FY2025 Explore Grant recipients. Libraries will receive their funding in March.

 

FY2025 Explore Grants

Municipality	Library Name	Award Amount
Belchertown	Swift River Library, Belchertown Public Schools	$4,000
Boston	Henry Grew School Library, Boston Public Schools	$4,000
Braintree	Thayer Public Library	$4,000
Falmouth	Falmouth Public Library	$4,000
Hopkinton	Hopkinton Public School Libraries	$4,000
Ipswich	Ipswich Public Library	$7,500
Lowell	Pollard Memorial Library	$4,000
North Andover	North Andover Public Elementary School Libraries	$4,000
Northampton	Forbes Library	$7,500
Plainville	Plainville Public Library	$4,000
Revere	Ugo E. Evangelista Library, Revere High School	$4,000
Revere	Revere Public Library	$4,000
Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury Public Library	$7,500
South Hadley	South Hadley Public Library	$7,500
Springfield	Springfield City Library	$4,000
Wakefield	Lucius Beebe Memorial Library	$4,000
Watertown	Watertown Free Public Library	$4,000
Worcester	Dinand Library, College of the Holy Cross	$7,500

 

Federal funding in Massachusetts Libraries

In addition to grants, the MBLC uses federal LSTA funding to support statewide library services and resources including the Commonwealth Catalog, preservation and disaster recovery in cultural institutions, online research databases in conjunction with the Massachusetts Library System, statewide eBook and audiobooks, and the statewide library resource website for residents. Federal funding also assists small libraries in participating in one of the state's nine automated library networks that improve technology in local libraries and make automated library services efficient and affordable.

The MBLC's LSTA program is developed in accordance with the LSTA five-year plan and reviewed by MBLC staff working in collaboration with the State Advisory Council on Libraries, a council of library users and librarians from public, academic, school, institutional and special libraries, as well as libraries serving persons with disabilities. More information about LSTA is available on the MBLC website. LSTA funding is made possible through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

About IMLS

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.