Make a State Library Public Records Request

Guidelines for Making a Public Record Request

The State Library of Massachusetts has designated the following employee as the Primary Records Access Officer (RAO) who will assist requesters in fulfilling their requests.

• Stacy R. DeBole, Primary RAO
• Title: State Librarian
• Business address: Room 341, State House, Boston, MA  02133
• Business telephone number: 617-727-2590
• Business email: Stacy.R.DeBole@mass.gov

Only questions pertaining to the PRR process or a PRR status should be sent to the email account of the Primary RAO. 

Contacting an Agency

To help avoid delay in responses, please consider whether your public record request would more appropriately be directed to a different agency.

Each secretariat and agency has a designated RAO who will receive and respond to public records requests. 

Public Records Request Information

On June 3, 2016, “An Act to Improve Public Records” was signed into law, enhancing public access to information. That law went into effect on January 1, 2017. While diligent efforts are made every day across the Executive Branch to respond to a large number of public record requests, this law provides standards that will improve our approach so as to reduce delays and costs that burden accessibility.

For additional information about making a request or filing an appeal, see Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2016 and 950 CMR 32.  

Public Records Request Tips

Consider how you can narrow the scope of your request to expedite the production process.  The first four hours of work performed to respond to a PRR will be performed at no cost.  After that, the agency may charge up to $25 per hour.  

Public agencies must adhere to the law requiring them to secure personally identifiable information and prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy.  Documents containing such information must be redacted carefully before releasing, expanding time needed for production.

Consider how you might revise your PRR to exclude records containing such information.