Explore Grants Awarded as Part of Federal Rebuild
January 23, 2026
June Thammasnong
Communications Specialist
1-800-952-7403 x208
june.thammasnong@mass.gov
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce that 12 libraries have received a combined $58,500 as the FY2026 recipients of Explore Grants. These grants were initially awarded in FY2025, but had to be cancelled due to federal funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The MBLC uses federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding from IMLS to provide Explore Grants that improve library services, collections, and programs. In December, IMLS funding was reinstated.
Explore Grants are open to all types of libraries: school, academic, public and special. Below are the FY2026 Explore Grant recipients.
| 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 |
| Hopkinton | Hopkinton Public School Libraries | $4,000 |
| Ipswich | Ipswich Public Library | $7,500 |
| Lowell | Pollard Memorial Library | $4,000 |
| Northampton | Forbes Library | $7,500 |
| Revere | Ugo E. Evangelista Library, Revere High School | $4,000 |
| Revere | Revere Public Library | $4,000 |
| Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury Public Library | $7,500 |
| Springfield | Springfield City Library | $4,000 |
| Wakefield | Lucius Beebe Memorial Library | $4,000 |
Federal Funding in Massachusetts
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. LSTA funding is made possible through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The MBLC began rebuilding its federal program after the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced it had reinstated all federal grants which were terminated due to Executive Order 14238 signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025.
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.