About the MBLC
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is the state library agency, founded in 1890, with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate, and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth.
As a state agency, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners promotes equitable access, advances innovation, and fosters resilience in libraries across the Commonwealth through funding, guidance, partnerships, and the coordination of statewide services.
Our vision for libraries in the Commonwealth is to see every library in Massachusetts as a thriving community hub, transforming lives through access to knowledge, information, and lifelong learning.
About this Website
The Massachusetts Libraries website provides the public a place to discover and learn about our free public library services. Visitors can get a library card, find library events, do research, learn how to borrow an eBook or audiobook, or which library will lend you a kayak.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) runs this website. Though we are not a public library, we work with all 369 Massachusetts public libraries to level the playing field and make sure everyone has access to the library services they want and need.
MBLC
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Statewide Online Resources
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Grants and State Aid
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Guidance and Advisory
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Construction Support
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Summer Reading Support
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Statewide Coordination
AT YOUR LIBRARY
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Borrow books, DVDs, CDs
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Attend a class or program
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Use a computer
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Get a Wifi hotspot
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Use a Makerspace
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Ask a reference question
๐ข๐Calling all teens ages 13-18: join us at the @fallriverpubliclibrary for an incredible MassArt Aluminum Pour Workshop on Wednesday, August 6th at 2PM! Participants will walk away with their own custom cast aluminum art! Registration is required. โก๏ธ Sign up now at the link in bio. See you there! ๐
Image 1: Promo image for MassArt Aluminum Pour Workshop for teens aged 13-18
Image 2: Participants gathered around a table carving in scratch blocks to create a cast for their aluminum pour art.
Image 3: A close up view of participants carving into scratch blocks at the 2024 Woburn MassArt Aluminum Pour Workshop.
Image 4: 2024 MassArt team pouring melted aluminum in a mold.
#MassArtAtTheLibrary #CreativeSummer #SummerAtTheLibrary #SummerLibrary #MassArt #MassLibraries #MALibraries #LibrariesInMA #MAPublicLibrary #MAPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesinMA #LibraryService #Library #Libraries #LibraryWork #LibraryLove #MassachusettsLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MAPublicLibraries
๐ธโจ Last week, Blades visited @sherbornlibrary , bringing smiles and unforgettable moments of #LibraryJoy! ๐ Dive into the photos and see if you can spot yourself or your library friends at the ๐link in bio.
#SherbornLibrary #BladesVisit #NHLBruins #BostonBruins #WhenYouReadYouScore #BruinsSummerReading #BruinsLibraryVisit #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #SummerReading #SummerLibrary #MassLibraries #MALibraries #LibrariesInMA #MAPublicLibrary #MAPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesinMA #LibraryService
๐คHappy Friday! It`s been an exciting and busy week at the MBLC! โก๏ธ
1๏ธโฃMBLC Staff were at the Massachusetts State House for a hearing on the Freedom to Read Bills. For more info on the hearing and view the testimonies at the link๐ in bio!
2๏ธโฃThe MBLC Summer Team and @NHLBostonBruins Blades visited Russell Public Library, Hadley Public Library (Image 1) and (Image 2)! Read more about the wonderful visit in Hadley at the ๐ in bio.
3๏ธโฃ(Image 3) The MassArt Summer Workshop series kicked off in Lowell! Teens in middle and high school learned about sustainable fashion and learned how to use a sewing machine to make a tote bag out of repurposed sails.
Image 1: Blades and the Umass Amherst Hockey Team, MBLC Commissioner Karen Traub, and Hadley Public Library Youth Services Coordinator Emily Dattilo.
Image 2: Blades with library friends in Sherborn, including former MBLC Commissioner Mary Ann Cluggish, MBLC Commissioner Debby Conrad, District 2 Governor`s Councilor Tamisha Civil, Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, MBLC Director Maureen Amyot and Sherborn Library Director Liz Anderson.
Image 3: Lowell articipants gathered around a sewing machine with Jenn Varekamp, MassArt Fashion Design Chair and Professor.
#NHLBruins #BostonBruins #WhenYouReadYouScore #BruinsSummerReading #BruinsLibraryVisit #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #SummerReading #SummerLibrary
๐๐จ Blades goes all over the state to encourage everyone to read over the summer! This morning, Blades had a fantastic time in Sherborn thanks to the incredible @sherbornlibrary staff and friends that joined us for a power hour of Bruins fun ๐ Stay tuned for more photos to come!
#NHLBruins #BostonBruins #WhenYouReadYouScore #BruinsSummerReading #BruinsLibraryVisit #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #SummerReading #SummerLibrary
๐๏ธMark your calendars! These doors to the new @sawyerfreelibrary will be open soon! Gloucester will celebrate Sawyer Free Library`s Grand Opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, September 5, followed by a Community Celebration and Open House on Saturday, September 6th. ๐
๐For more information on these events visit the link in bio!
๐ผ๏ธImage: New entrance to Sawyer Free Library at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester.
#LibraryConstruction #LibraryBuilding #LibraryBuildingProject #LibraryBuildings #LibraryReno #LibraryRenovation #LibraryConstructionProject #SustainableLibrary #SustainableLibraries #LibrariesinMA #MALibraries #MassachusettsLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MAPublicLibraries #libraryJoy #LibraryLove #PublicLibraryConstruction #PublicLibrary #GloucesterMA #SawyerFreeLibrary
๐ #FlashbackFriday ๐ Relive the excitement of the Bruins Summer Reading Kickoff event @woburnlibrary with this highlight video! ๐ฅ
๐บ You can also view and/or share at the link in bio!
#NHLBruins #BostonBruins #WhenYouReadYouScore #BruinsSummerReading #BruinsLibraryVisit #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary
๐โจ What a fantastic time @nevinslibrary in Methuen with Blades! Thank you to the wonderful #LibraryStaff for hosting our visit and to everyone who came out to join us. And special thanks to Commissioner Jessica Vilas Novas for our first bilingual storytime this summer in Spanish!๐โค๏ธ
#BladesAtTheLibrary #SummerAtTheLibrary #SummerLibrary #SummerLibraryMA #BilingualStorytime
#NHLBruins #BostonBruins #WhenYouReadYouScore #BruinsSummerReading #BruinsLibraryVisit #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #OliverTherapyDog #MBLC #MBLCLibraries #MethuenMA
โจ๐๏ธ Hey, teens in middle and high school! Join us next week on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30P in Lowell at @lowelllibrary for the 1st MassArt at the Library Summer Workshop on Sustainable Fashion ๐๐ Learn how to use a sewing machine and how your creativity can make an impact towards a more sustainable future!
๐Sign up to participate at the link in bio!
๐ผ๏ธ1. Banner for MassArt Sustainable Fashion for teens in middle and high school
๐ผ๏ธ2. Participants learning about sustainable fashion at Medford Public Library with MassArt Fashion Design Chair and Professor Jennifer Varekamp.
๐ผ๏ธ3. Last year`s sustainable fashion participants using a sewing machine
๐ผ๏ธ4. A participant shows off the tote bag she created at the Sustainable Fashion workshop last year.
#MassArtAtTheLibrary #CreativeSummer #SummerAtTheLibrary #SummerLibrary #MassArt #MassLibraries #MALibraries #LibrariesInMA #MAPublicLibrary #MAPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesinMA #LibraryService #Library #Libraries #LibraryWork #LibraryLove #MassachusettsLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MAPublicLibraries #LowellMA
