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
💝🏛️The Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library will be renamed to honor Sarah-Ann Shaw, Boston`s first Black woman TV reporter. Shaw was a lifelong resident of Roxbury, who "paved the way for generations of journalists, storytellers, and leaders. Her passion for her Roxbury community and brilliance in reporting stories that otherwise would not have received the coverage they deserved reshaped Boston`s media landscape," said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
🔗For more on this special dedication, visit the link in bio.
#PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #BPL #BostonPublicLibrary #RoxburyMA #RoxburyLibrary #RoxburyBranch
📺 Check out this fun spotlight on Newton Free Library`s Library of Things from NBC Boston!
The Newton Free Library offers a Library of Things featuring 800 items from games to medical equipment to tools for your next DIY project. Check to see if your local library has a Library of Things too at: https://libraries.state.ma.us/resources/library-of-things
🔗Watch or read NBC Boston`s coverage of Newton`s Library of Things at the link in bio!
Pictured: Newton Free Library Supervisor of Material Services Alan Long and NBC Boston`s Bianca Beltran.
#LibraryOFThings #SavingMoneyAtTheLibrary #SavingMoneyAtYourLocalLibrary #LoT #BorrowNotBuy #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary
📰 "Vineyard librarians told the MV Times that the databases are important community resources…students use the “peer reviewed, authoritative resources” for their research papers. Town officials do as well. The Oak Bluffs shellfish department used the databases for accessing up-to-date research for its field work."
🔗To read more of the MV Times` article "Federal Funding Cuts Reach Vineyard Libraries", visit the link in bio.
#PublicLibraryFunding #LibraryFunding #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #LibraryLaws #RightToRead #FedFundingToLibraries #IMLSFunding #FederalFundingToLibraries #LibraryFederalFunding
💖 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. ✨
🗨️“I 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,” said Sika.
🔗To 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 💓🎞️ 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.
🔗You 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
🖼️1: Left to Right, Cate Merlin, Kim Charlson and her service pup Idabelle, and Maureen Amyot in front of Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library.
🖼️2: Director Amyot tries a Braille eReader
🖼️3: Director Amyot filling a patron order at the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library
👏Governor 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.
🔗 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
⚠️"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."
🔗 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
☀️😊Happy #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 🔗the link in bio!
#FortifyingFridays #PublicLibrariesInMA #MassPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesOfMassachusetts #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #MAPublicLibrary #MassPublicLibrary #LibrariesInMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #LibraryBlog #LibraryPolicy #LibraryPolicies #LibraryLaws #FortifyingYourLibrary
