5/23/2025 From Maureen Amyot, Director of Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

This week at the Massachusetts Library Association conference I announced what statewide services will look like for FY2006 as we move ahead with no federal funding. While we are able to maintain the Commonwealth Catalog, the Libby eBook platform, and some funding for eBook content, the ongoing federal funding instability has caused us to make significant reductions in database offerings. After the announcement, many people shared kind words with me and with our staff at the MBLC booth. Please know how much we all appreciate it.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell at the conference. As I’ve mentioned previously, through AG Campbell’s office, Massachusetts is part of a 21 state lawsuit to protect IMLS in the aftermath of President Trump’s Executive Order.

In that conversation, AG Campbell told me she wants the library community to know that the actions outlined in the executive order are illegal, and her office is doing absolutely everything in their power to stop it. They will not stop fighting. It was encouraging to know that at the highest level of state government, we have a staunch advocate who truly has our backs.

Last week  Rhode Island district court judge John J. McConnell Jr. issued an injunction to stop the dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The order calls for IMLS employees to be recalled and for processing and disbursements of grants to be resumed. It also requires that reports be submitted to demonstrate compliance with the injunction.

The first report states that IMLS staff are being recalled and that some grants will resume.

While that is good news, and baby steps in the right direction,  we also learned this week that the Trump Administration is appealing the injunction.

We are watching the situation closely and reaching out to our colleagues in other states, but until or unless IMLS is fully restored and funds are flowing, the only fiscally responsible path for the MBLC is to continue to plan for FY26 without federal funding.

We’ve created some ways to track what’s happening with services and federal funding:
MBLC Program Status
Database Information Sheet
Federal Funding Impact Dashboard (for stakeholders, on the agency website)
Federal Funding Impact for the Public (on the consumer portal) updated with the most current information.

On the state side, this week the Massachusetts Senate has been debating their FY26 budget. Senators Oliveira, Rausch, and Collins filed amendments across several MBLC budget lines. During Wednesday’s session the last of the amendments was taken up. Here are the results:

Amendment 615 will add $500,000 to State Aid to Regional Public Libraries 7000-9401. This extra funding to the Massachusetts Library System and Library for the Commonwealth will have a big impact securing resources during these times of unstable federal funding. Sincere thanks  go out to Senator Oliveira for his leadership in filing these amendments and his staff for being so responsive.

The Senate's debate on the budget wrapped up yesterday, and their final budget is complete. The budget now goes to the House and Senate Ways and Means Conference Committee for debate on any line items that didn’t match each other in both budgets. Once that is complete, a final version will be presented to the Governor.

5/4/2025

Dear Colleagues,

Let's keep the momentum bolstered at the conference by Senator Jake Oliviera's eloquent address regarding book bans, ebooks and school library standards. If you haven't already, please contact your legislators regarding the very important library bills that have been filed. Each of these bills impacts our students.  Feel free to copy the following language into an email to your state representative and senator.

The School Library Standards BillsHD.4488 &S.428 compel DESE to adopt the AASL School Library Standards and to gather accurate licensed school librarian data. Currently, there are no school library standards in the commonwealth. The eBook Bills,H.3595 and S.2330,call for a study of actual eBook costs and will bring together publishers, legislators and librarians to determine fair pricing. The Freedom to Read Bills,H.3594 and S.2328, provide equitable access to collections, a civil right for all citizens, and protections for school and public librarians against personal attack. 

To see whether or not your representative or senator has co-signed, click the bill link and then the tab  that says petitioner.  We need many more co-signers for all of them.

The time taken to do this truly makes a difference.

Thank you,

Debbie

Deborah Lang Froggatt

MSLA Outreach Director
Former Boston Public School Director of Library Services

4/1/2025

¹ "Trump Administration Moves to Shutter Library Agency." (The New York Times, 3/31/2025).

3/21/2025 from Barb Fecteau, MSLA President:  React to the cuts in Library Services:  https://www.markey.senate.gov/trumpstories - it is a portal to tell your stories about how you are affected by what is going on in Washington. If we fill it up with stories of our students accessing the databases and ebooks, it will make this issue more visible. Feel free to share it with teachers who you know use these resources too. 

3/5/3025 From Deb Froggatt: 

The gathering in Norwood this past Sunday and Monday  with many of you was energizing and heartwarming. The collective effort and care given on behalf of the Commonwealth's children is a testament the impact that our profession has on academic success.

I write to ask you to reach out to your state representatives and senators to ask them to add their names as sponsors to the bills listed below.  Here is the Find Your Legislator tool. 

* School Library Standards  This bill will help establish the AASL standards and require that DESE performs a school librarian survey so we have an accurate look at equitable access to effective school library programs. The bill is SD.1769.  Here is the School Library Standards  One Pager. 

* Freedom to Read  These bills would further protect libraries and librarians from censorship and abuse.  There are several bills, but we are asking for legislators to sponsor SD.141 and HD.625.  You can share this Freedom to Read handout with your legislators.

* eBook Bill - These bills would work towards increasing access to digital resources, while also creating a fairer pricing model for libraries.  The bills include SD.2329 and HD.1221. You can share this eBook handout with your legislators.  

Senator Jacob Oliveira spoke Monday morning. The energy in the room regarding his support of our efforts was powerful. We are fortunate to have him as a school library advocate. Please reach out and thank him: Jacob.Oliveira@masenate.gov

Your correspondence of thanks and seeking support truly make a difference.

ToolKit from the MTA School Library Task Force