• 2024 Bruins Summer Reading Materials

    Submit your order by March 26

  • FY2025 Legislative Agenda

    Building a Stronger Commonwealth: one person at a time

  • Financial Literacy Month

    Grow your programming with resources from the Office of Economic Empowerment

  • Smokey Bear Reading Challenge

    Celebrate Smokey's 80th birthday with your library!

NEWS RELEASES

Latest activities and updates from the MBLC

March 15, 2024 - Bruins All-Star David Pastrnak is 2024 Summer Library Player

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce that Boston Bruins right-winger David Pastrnak is the featured player for the 2024 Statewide Summer Library Program, “When You Read, You Score!”  This summer Pastrnak will be featured on the annual READ ...READ MORE

March 12, 2024 - Timothy Cherubini Appointed Library Commissioner by Governor Healey

Timothy Cherubini of Williamstown has been appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve on the nine-member Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Mr. Cherubini brings over 3 decades of experience in libraries and non-profits to the MBLC, including work in academic libraries, regional a...READ MORE

March 12, 2024 - Governor Healey includes Library Construction in Bond Bill

On March 1, Governor Maura Healey filed the Mass Leads Act, which provides $3.5 billion in critical investments, including the Commonwealth's public libraries. The bill supports the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners' (MBLC) Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) with a...READ MORE

Library Directory

From the MBLC Blog

Benefit of My Public Library to me as a Person with a Disability

By Penelope Ann Shaw, PhD. I live in a nursing home. When I first came to the facility 21 years ago I was not able to go out because I was too sick. But my local public library – Thayer Library in Braintree, MA – brought me books to read. These helped me to pass … Continue reading Benefit of My Public Library to me as a Person with a Disability

Libraries in the News

Prime Focus: US libraries on the frontlines of homelessness

ABC News’ Jaclyn Lee reports on libraries being on the frontlines of the increasing homelessness crisis across the U.S. and how librarians are learning techniques to help.Watch this amazing news story

Art to reflect the community: Forbes Library uses anonymous donation to purchase a range of BIPOC art

A couple years ago, Forbes Library received a $10,000 donation from a donor who wanted to remain anonymous but also wanted the money used for a very specific purpose: to broaden the Northampton library’s permanent art collection.The library donor — the person lives in the area, according to Downing — told Forbes officials that the … Continue reading Art to reflect the community: Forbes Library uses anonymous donation to purchase a range of BIPOC art

You can now check out an all-terrain wheelchair at the Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield

SHEFFIELD — For those who can’t go into the woods without help, Sheffield has a solution.With a state grant, the town bought a “GRIT Freedom Chair” that can be borrowed from the Bushnell-Sage Library’s “Library of Things” by those from any city or town with a CW Mars system library card. Read more from Berkshire Eagle