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 public libraries, and provides specialized library services to blind and physically handicapped residents. The Board also supports resource-sharing among the Commonwealth's libraries and the utilization of electronic information technologies.

The Board of Library Commissioners provides funding to the Boston Public Library to maintain collection development, and for access to specialized reference services and other statewide programs. The Board provides ongoing support for library Internet access, and the Massachusetts Library Information Network (MLIN) website. The virtual catalog, which creates a single source for all printed matter available in the Commonwealth, is maintained by the Board of Library Commissioners. The Board also expands statewide access to general reference, medical, business, and academic periodical databases.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 1999 will enable the Board of Library Commissioners to provide the same level of service as in Fiscal Year 1998.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS ADMINISTRATION
7000-9101	For the operation of the board of library commissioners	1,129,659
	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 clauses (1) and (2) of section 19C of chapter 78 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 said section 19C 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 96.35 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 funds from this item in any fiscal year when the appropriation of the city or town where such regional public library is located is below an amount equal to 102.5 per cent of the average of the appropriations for free public library service for the three fiscal years immediately preceding; and provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of this item, the board may grant waivers for a period of not more than one year, in a number not to exceed one-tenth the number permitted pursuant to the second paragraph of section 19A of said chapter 78, to any library not receiving funds as a library of last recourse	16,005,931
	Local Aid Fund 100%

TALKING BOOK LIBRARY - WORCESTER
7000-9402	For the operation of a talking book library in Worcester	194,478
	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	1,202,919
	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 funds from this item in any fiscal year when the appropriation of said city or town for free public library services is below an amount equal to 102.5 per cent of the average of the appropriations for free public library service for the three fiscal years immediately preceding; provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of this item, the board of library commissioners may grant waivers permitted pursuant to the second paragraph of section 19A of chapter 78 of the General Laws, for a period of not more than one year, to any library not receiving funds as a library of last recourse; and provided further, that any payment made from this item 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 statewide library technology and resource-sharing programs and for the telecommunications expenses of library participation in the automated resource sharing networks	3,815,235

Federal Grant Spending

UNRESTRICED FUNDS - TITLE I
7000-9700	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Unrestriced Funds - Title I	172,904

LIBRARY SERVICE TECHNICAL ACT FUNDS
7000-9702	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Library Service Technical Act Funds	2,970,206

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	308,564

Trust and Other Spending

7070-6610

ELIZABETH P SOHIER LIBRARY FUND

1,350