State Aid News Releases

February 06, 2024 - 347 Libraries Certified for State Aid Awards

At its January Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) certified 65 additional municipalities meeting all FY2024 requirements for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program.  In total, 343 libraries have met all state aid requirements, 4 libraries requested waivers, and toge...

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December 14, 2023 - Second Round of FY2024 State Aid Awards Approved by Board

At its December Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved 147 municipalities that met all requirements for certification in the FY2024 State Aid to Public Libraries Program.  These libraries join the 131 libraries that were approved in November. State Aid program grants for th...

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November 21, 2023 - Board Approves First Round of FY2024 State Aid Grants

At its November Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved 131 municipalities that met all requirements for certification in the FY2024 State Aid to Public Libraries Program. State Aid program grants for this initial round total $2.8 million.  Libraries use state aid funding to...

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February 02, 2023 - Successful State Aid 2023

At its February Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) wrapped up the FY2023 State Aid to Public Libraries application process by approving waivers of Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR) for eight applicants. FY2023 State Aid program grants total more than $16 million, the largest ...

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December 01, 2022 - State Aid is Largest in Program’s History

At its December board meeting the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved 186 municipalities that met all requirements for certification in the FY2023 State Aid to Public Libraries Program. These libraries join the 96 that were approved in November. To date more than $6.6 million has been awarded i...

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August 01, 2022 - Governor Signs Budget with Increases to Library Funding

On July 28, 2022, Governor Charlie Baker signed the FY2023 budget. Included in the bill is increased funding to library line items at or above what was requested in the FY23 Legislative Agenda....

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February 07, 2022 - 347 Municipalities Certified in State Aid Program

At its February Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved twenty-eight Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR) Waiver applications. The MAR is funding from the municipality to support the library. This and other requirements of the State Aid to Public Libraries program help creat...

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January 06, 2022 - MBLC Suspends Open Hours Requirement

In an ongoing effort to support frontline library staff and encourage safe library services, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) voted unanimously to relax specific State Aid to Public Libraries program requirements. The vote, taken at the board’s January meeting, suspends the Hours Open Requi...

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November 09, 2021 - Board Approves First Round of State Aid Grants

At its November Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved 103 municipalities that met all requirements for certification in the FY2022 State Aid to Public Libraries program. State Aid program grants for FY2022 total $13 million, a $1 million increase over the amount given during FY...

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March 04, 2021 - Record Number of Libraries Certified in State Aid

At its March 4 meeting the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), voted to certify waiver applicants and one additional library meeting full requirements in the State Aid to Public Libraries program. Combined with libraries certified last month, 347 have been certified in the FY2021 State Aid to Public Li...

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March 04, 2021 - MBLC Chair Statement on Municipal Funding and State Aid Certification

The Board of Library Commissioners recognizes that the FY2021 State Aid to Public Libraries grant round has taken place in an atmosphere of continuing fiscal uncertainty as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. Despite these fiscal constraints 295 municipalities have met the Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR). Anot...

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For More Information

Cate Merlin, Head of State Programs
617-725-1860 x220
857-283-5669 (Mobile)
cate.merlin@mass.gov

Jen Inglis, State Aid Specialist
617-725-1860 x227
857-488-6112 (Mobile)
jennifer.inglis@mass.gov