MBLC Funds Statewide eContent
August 07, 2025
Celeste Bruno
Communications Director
1-800-952-7403 x208
celeste.bruno@mass.gov
At its August board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved $500,000 in grants to Automated Networks to purchase eContent for the Library eBook and Audiobook (LEA) program. LEA gives Massachusetts residents access to eBooks, audiobooks, and more from 400 participating libraries from across the Commonwealth. This statewide system allows eContent to be shared in a similar way to physical materials, opening up access that was previously unavailable for eBooks and audiobooks. The LEA collection has grown 37% over the past three years and totals almost 1.5 million eBooks and Audiobooks.
Over the past five years, LEA checkouts have increased by 73.2% to a high of 1,812,944 last fiscal year. The ability to keep up with resident demand is constrained by high pricing to libraries and publisher restrictions, such as whether libraries can own or lease titles, how many copies libraries can get, and how long libraries have to wait after the book is released to the general public. Some titles are not available to libraries at all. Since 2018, to try keep pace with demand, networks have more than doubled their spending on eContent that can be shared across the state and yet long wait times persist. The Massachusetts Library Association is currently working with state legislators to ensure public access to eContent through libraries.
In addition to the eContent grants, Commissioners also approved $94,000 in LEA Platform grants which offset the fee networks pay to use Libby/OverDrive, the app and software that deliver the eContent for LEA. Grant awards are listed below.
| Network | Municipality | Award (Content) | Award (Platform) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAMS | Hyannis | $35,048.87 | $12,000 |
| CW MARS | Worcester | $79,615.86 | $12,000 |
| MBLN | Boston | $105,591.88 | $10,000 |
| Minuteman Library Network | Natick | $103,116.15 | $12,000 |
| MVLC | Lawrence | $39,073.19 | $12,000 |
| NOBLE | Danvers | $38,934.86 | $12,000 |
| OCLN | Braintree | $51,238.81 | $12,000 |
| SAILS | Lakeville | $47,330.38 | $12,000 |
| Totals | $500,000 | $94,000 |
This is the seventh year the MBLC has awarded content grants to support statewide eBook sharing. Residents can find more information and start using LEA on libraries.state.ma.us.
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.