The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners develops and coordinates free public library services throughout the Commonwealth, and strives to provide every resident with full and equal access to library information resources. The Board provides technical assistance and financial support to the Commonwealth's 2,500 libraries, and provides specialized library services to blind and physically handicapped residents. The Board also supports resource-sharing among libraries and the utilization of electronic information technologies.

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 1998, the Board of Library Commissioners will:

• expand the present regional public library systems to include membership from universities and colleges, primary and secondary schools, and special libraries in the Commonwealth;
• establish programs to provide access to specialized informational resources on a statewide basis, and support library resource sharing activities statewide; and
• enhance the capabilities of shared library computer networks, and the Massachusetts Library and Information Network (MLIN), a statewide electronic information network linking all libraries.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 1998 will enable the Board of Library Commissioners to provide the same level of service as in Fiscal Year 1997 and meet the objectives outlined above.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS ADMINISTRATION
7000-9101	For the administration and expenses of the board of library commissioners	944,524
	Local Aid Fund 100%

REGIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES LOCAL AID
7000-9401	For state aid to regional public libraries; provided, that the board of library commissioners may provide quarterly advances of funds for purposes authorized by section nineteen C (1) and (2) of chapter seventy-eight of the General Laws, as it deems proper, to the regional public library systems throughout each fiscal year, in compliance with the office of the comptroller's regulations on state grants, 815 CMR 2.00; provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of section nineteen C of said chapter seventy-eight or any other general or special law to the contrary, the Boston public library shall, as the library of last recourse for reference and research services for the commonwealth, be paid from this item an amount equal to eighty-eight and seven-hundredths cents per resident in the commonwealth; provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, no regional public library shall receive any money under this item in any year when the appropriation of the city or town where such regional public library is located is below an amount equal to one hundred two and one-half percent of the average of the appropriations for free public library service for the three years immediately preceding; and provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of this item, the board of library commissioners may grant waivers, in a number not to exceed one-tenth the number permitted pursuant to the sixth paragraph of section nineteen A of said chapter seventy-eight, to any library not receiving funds as a library of last recourse for a period of no more than one year	13,805,931
	Local Aid Fund 100%

TALKING BOOK LIBRARY - WORCESTER
7000-9402	For the purposes of a subregional talking book library at Worcester	147,332
	Local Aid Fund 100%

TALKING BOOK PROGRAM
7000-9406	For the administration of a statewide talking book program, including the operation of the machine-lending agency	952,919
	Local Aid Fund 100%

STATE AID TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES
7000-9501	For state aid to public libraries; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, no city or town shall receive any money under this item in any year when the appropriation of said city or town for free public library services is below an amount equal to one hundred two and one-half percent of the average of the appropriations for free public library service for the three years immediately preceding; provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of this item, the board of library commissioners may grant waivers permitted pursuant to the sixth paragraph of section nineteen A of chapter seventy-eight of the General Laws to any library not receiving funds as a library of last recourse for a period of no more than one year; and provided further, that any payment made under this appropriation shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city or town and held as a separate account and shall be expended by the public library of such city or town without appropriation, notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary	6,899,804
	Local Aid Fund 100%

TELECOMMUNICATION EXPENSES OF AUTOMATED RESOURCE-SHARING NETWORKS
7000-9506	For the telecommunications expenses of library participation in the automated resource sharing networks	1,837,235

Federal Grant Spending

TITLE III LSCA INTER-LIBRARY COOPERATION
7000-9703	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Title III LSCA Inter-Library Cooperation	525,000

TITLE I LSCA PROGRAM
7000-9705	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Title I LSCA Program	2,033,689

TITLE II LSCA EMERGENCY FEDERAL JOBS BILL
7000-9707	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Title II LSCA Emergency Federal Jobs Bill	379,000

Trust and Other Spending

7070-6610

ELIZABETH P SOHIER LIBRARY FUND

1,000