The MBLC administers the Annual Report Information Survey (ARIS) and Financial Report in compliance with Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 78. Each fiscal year, public libraries are required to submit this data in order to receive State Aid to Public Libraries and to meet the Minimum Standards of Public Library Service.
ARIS and Financial Report data is submitted online through the LibPAS data management system. LibPAS also allows librarians to run customized library data reports.
- Instructions & Tips for Using LibPAS
- Counting Electronic Resources
- Recording of ARIS Webinar — This is a recording of the workshop held on June 19, 2018. Make sure your speakers are on/the volume is turned up as the session will begin automatically once you have registered. Please note there is a gap in the recording due to technical issues, but the session does continue.
Using summaries of this data prepared by MBLC staff, libraries can compare the quality and effectiveness of library services across Massachusetts, supporting their own planning, evaluation and goals.
Selected survey information is also submitted to the Institute of Museum and Library Services for analysis at the national level, and as part of an agreement for the MBLC to administer certain federal grant funding.