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
π We`re delighted to announce the appointment of a new MBLC Commissioner! Kemarah Sika joins the board with extensive experience as an organizational development consultant, non-profit leader and school librarian. β¨
π¨οΈβI am honored to join the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and to support the vital role libraries play in advancing equity, lifelong learning, and community connection across the Commonwealth. Libraries are not just repositories of knowledge. They are safe havens and essential hubs of access, inclusion, and opportunity for all,β said Sika.
πTo read more about Commissioner Sika, visit the link in bio or MBLC website at mblc.state.ma.us
#MBLCCommissioners #LibraryCommissioner #LibraryAdvocate #LibrarySchoolTeacher #LicensedLibrarySchoolTeacher #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #MassachusettsLibraries #MALibrary #MALibraries #MBLCLibraries #MBLCLibrary
#MondayMemories πποΈ MBLC Director Maureen Amyot and MBLC Head of State Programs Cate Merlin recently had a fantastic visit at Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library with Director Kim Charlson! Perkins circulates more than half a million copies of accessible books, newspapers and publications in braille, large print and digital audio formats in Massachusetts, New England and beyond.
πYou can learn more and apply for free access at the link in bio!
#MondayFunday #MondayVibes #Braille #BrailleLibrary #SpecialLibrary #BrailleLibraryService #LibraryServices # #SpecialLibraryMA #MASpecialLibraries #MALibraies #MAPublicLibraries #LibraryServiceForTheBlindAndPrintDisabled #LibrariesForAll #PerkinsLibrary #LibraryServicesForReadingDisability #ReadingDisability
πΌοΈ1: Left to Right, Cate Merlin, Kim Charlson and her service pup Idabelle, and Maureen Amyot in front of Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library.
πΌοΈ2: Director Amyot tries a Braille eReader
πΌοΈ3: Director Amyot filling a patron order at the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library
πGovernor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll recently announced that Regie Gibson has been selected to serve as Massachusetts Inaugural Poet Laureate. This selection follows an exhaustive search with more than a hundred applicants designed to identify a poet who will amplify poetry and creative expression across Massachusetts.
π Read more at tinyurl.com/MA-1st-Poet or the link in bio.
Photo Credit: Mass Cultural Council
#MassCulturalCouncil #MassCulture #MassCultural #MassachusettsPoetry #MAPoetry #MAPoetLaureate #MassachusettsLit #MALit #MassachusettsLiterature #MALiterature #poetLaureate #Poet #MAPoet #MassachusettsPoet #PoetryForThePeople
β οΈ"The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been the subject of federal administration gutting since mid-March. Among the casualties are the bulk of its small staff, the bulk of its budget, and the bulk of its services and purpose."
π Read more at the link in bio.
#PublicLibraryFunding #LibraryFunding #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #ForOurLibraries #RightToRead #FreedomToRead #IMLS #FederalFunding #IMLSFederalFunding #IMLSCuts #FederalCutsToLibraries #FedCutsToLibraries
βοΈπHappy #FortifyingFriday! In the latest installment of Fortifying Your Library, MBLC Library Advisory Specialist Al Hayden gets into the details of Public Comment Policy. Does your library have open meetings with public commentary? What about policies to keep public commentary as orderly as possible? Read more at πthe link in bio!
#FortifyingFridays #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #LibraryBlog #LibraryPolicy #LibraryPolicies #LibraryLaws #FortifyingYourLibrary
βΌοΈ It`s been just over 2 months since President Trump issued an executive order targeting the IMLS and library funding. Librarian Kelly Jensen has put together a comprehensive timeline with updates at πthe link in bio!
#PublicLibraryFunding #LibraryFunding #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #LibraryLaws #RightToRead #IMLS #FederalFunding #IMLSFederalFunding #IMLSCuts #FederalCutsToLibraries #FedCutsToLibraries #ForOurLibraries
β¨ Hey, it`s a #FortifyingFriday! In the previous post from MBLC Library Advisory Specialist Al Hayden, we looked at meeting room policies and today she`s got an even closer look at *use agreements* for meeting rooms. What`s that all about, you ask? Find out at πthe link in bio!
#FortifyingFridays #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #LibraryBlog #LibraryPolicy #LibraryPolicies #LibraryLaws #FortifyingYourLibrary
ALT: Informative graphic for a new blog post on meeting room use policy in libraries. The image shows a stack of books and text, "Fortifying Your Library with Al Hayden, Policy: Meeting Room Use" with a URL to read more.
β¨ π This week, 25 students and their families, legislators, teachers, and members of the library community gathered at the State House to celebrate the 25 years of the @masscenterforbook Center for the Book (MCB), and 25th Annual Letters About Literature (LAL) Awards! π Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa congratulated the students βfor reading voraciously, for being committed to learning more about the world that surrounds [them], and for sharing [their] experiences.β
π For more about the awards, the honorees and their letters, please visit the link in bio!
Photo Credit: Mass Center for the Book. Pictured: Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa addressing the audience at the 25th annual LAL awards
#lettersAboutLiterature #WriteLettersToTheAuthor #WriteTheAuthor #StudentWriting #MAStudentWriting #WritingAwards #MAAuthor #MassCenterForTheBook #MassachusettsCenterForTheBook
