Mass Libraries Legislative Agenda

<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta id="testViewport" name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes" /> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <title>Mass Libraries Legislative Agenda | FY2026</title> <meta name="description" content="The legislative agenda is used to inform state legislators about funding priorities that impact library services for all residents, and serves as a guide for MBLC staff and the library community."/>  <meta itemprop="image" content="files/images/global/share-this/social-image.jpg">  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="files/images/global/share-this/social-twitter-image.jpg">  <meta property="og:image" content="files/images/global/share-this/social-image.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" 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<h1>Legislative Agenda <strong>FY2026</strong></h1> </div> <nav> <div class="accordion-nav"> <div class="accordion-section-nav"> <a class="accordion-section-title-nav" href="#mob-nav" aria-controls="mob-nav" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Jump to a section of the page (opens a drop-down menu of available sections)"> </a> <div class="burger mmmmmm"> <div class="burger-box"> <div class="all-the-fixins"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="mob-nav" class="accordion-section-content-nav"> <ul> <li>Jump To ...</li> <li><strong><a href="#budget">FY2026 Budget Request</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="#PDF">FY2026 Legislative Agenda</a></strong></li> <li><a href="#introsection">State funding to libraries</a></li> <li><a href="#immigrants">Libraries are busy</a></li> <li class="mobile-nav-link share-mobile"> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </header> <main id="home"> <div id="content"> <section class="banner"> <div class="banner-inner"> <img src="files/images/main/header-desktop.gif" alt="" class="scalable"> </div> <div class="banner-inner-mobile"> <img src="files/images/main/header-mobile.gif" alt="" class="scalable"> </div> <div class="banner-headline-holder"> <h2>Libraries across the Commonwealth are providing critical services to communities.</h2> </div> </section> <section class="photobar"> <div class="inner"> <div id="pride-group-01"> <div><img src="files/images/main/photobar/main-photo-01.webp" width="1400" height="840" alt="Girl siting on floor using laptop in library aisle" class="scalable"></div> <div><img src="files/images/main/photobar/main-photo-02.webp" width="1400" height="840" alt="Woman assisting child using sewing machine in class" class="scalable"></div> <div><img src="files/images/main/photobar/main-photo-03.webp" width="1400" height="840" alt="Smiling teenage boy taking notes while sitting on floor in libary" class="scalable"></div> <div><img src="files/images/main/photobar/main-photo-04.webp" width="1400" height="840" alt="Group of young adults seated on floor in library talking in library surrounded by books" class="scalable"></div> <div><img src="files/images/main/photobar/main-photo-05.webp" width="1400" height="840" alt="Mature women seated at table listening to someone speaking" class="scalable"></div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="intro-area" id="introsection"> <div class="inner"> <div class="intro-image"><img src="files/images/main/heart-people.jpg" alt="Two people standing and smiling in library" class="scalable"/></div> <div class="intro-text"><p>State funding through the Governor and Legislature supports statewide lending, eBooks and audiobooks, delivery, library technology, online learning and research, programming and much more.</p> <h2>State funding to libraries is <1% of the total state budget.</h2> </div> </div> </section> <section class="callout-area-01" id="immigrants"> <div class="inner"> <div class="callout-txt"><h2>Libraries are busy*:</h2> <ul> <li>58 million items borrowed</li> <li>26 million visits</li> <li>3 million reference questions answered</li> <li>2 million people used library computers</li> <li>1 million people attended library programs and classes</li> </ul> </div> <div class="callout-image"></div> </div> </section> <div class="page-footnotes" id="footnotes"> <p><sup>*</sup>Data from 2023 ARIS Report</p></div> <section class="intro-area" id="community"> <div class="inner"> <h2>Check out how libraries are empowering members of your community.</h2> <a href="https://www.lovemasslibraries.com/" target="_parent" class="link" aria-label="Link to LoveMassLibraries Website (opens in a new window)">Visit Site</a> </div> </section> <section id="budget"> <table summary="Fiscal Year 2025 MBLC Budget Request by line-item number."> <caption> <h2 id="budget-header" class="budget-header"><abbr title="Fiscal Year">FY2026</abbr> MBLC Budget Request</h2> </caption > <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">Line Item Number and Name</th> <th scope="col"><abbr title="Fiscal Year">FY</abbr>2024</th> <th scope="col"><abbr title="Fiscal Year">FY</abbr>2025</th> <th scope="col">Proposed Increase</th> <th scope="col"><abbr title="Fiscal Year">FY</abbr>2026 Request</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="row"><strong>9101</strong> Board of Library Commissioners</th> <td>$1,904,745</td> <td>$2,074,268</td> <td>$414,854</td> <td>$2,489,122</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row"><strong>9401</strong> Regional Libraries Local Aid</th> <td>$16,717,600</td> <td>$19,000,000</td> <td>$950,000</td> <td>$19,950,000</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row"><strong>9402</strong> Talking Book Program Worcester</th> <td>$678,040</td> <td>$711,942</td> <td>$35,597</td> <td>$747,539</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row"><strong>9406</strong> Talking Book Program (Perkins) Watertown</th> <td>$3,860,420</td> <td>$4,053,441</td> <td>$202,672</td> <td>$4,256,113</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row"><strong>9501</strong> Public Libraries Local Aid</th> <td>$17,600,000</td> <td>$20,000,000</td> <td>$2,000,000</td> <td>$22,000,000</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row"><strong>9506</strong> Technology & Resource Sharing</th> <td>$6,167,581</td> <td>$6,169,480</td> <td>$308,474</td> <td>$6,477,954</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row"><strong>9508</strong> Center for the Book</th> <td>$420,000</td> <td>$420,000</td> <td>$130,000</td> <td>$550,000</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row">Totals</th> <td>$47,348,386</td> <td>$52,429,131</td> <td>$4,041,597</td> <td>$56,470,728</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div class="pdf-download-container mobile-only" id="PDF"> <a href="files/pdfs/FY2026MBLCLegislativeAgenda.pdf" target="_blank" aria-label="Link to FY2026 Massachusetts Libraries Legislative Agenda PDF (opens in a new window)"> Download the <br />"<strong>FY2026 Legislative Agenda</strong>"<span class="sr-only"> PDF by Clicking Here</span> </a> </div> </section> </div> </main> <footer> <div id="footer-inside"> <a class="footer-logo" href="https://mblc.state.ma.us" target="_blank" aria-label="Link to Massachusetts Libraries Board of Library Commissioners Agency Website (opens in a new window)"><img src="files/images/mblc_logo.jpg" class="scalable" width="1602" height="225" alt="Massachusetts Libraries Board of Library Commissioners (logo)"/></a> <div class="footer-address"> <span>Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners,<br> </span> <span>90 Canal St., Suite 500</span> <span>Boston, MA 02114</span> </div> <div class="footer-phone"> <span>Phone (in state only): <a href="tel:800-952-7403" aria-label="Call 1 800 953-7403 (in state only)">800-952-7403</a><br> </span> <span>Phone (general): <a href="tel:617-725-1860" aria-label="Call 1 617 725-1860 (general phone)">617-725-1860</a></span> </div> <div class="footer-websites"> <span>Consumer Portal: <a href="https://libraries.state.ma.us/" target="_blank" aria-label="Link to Massachusetts Libraries Board of Library Commissioners Consumer Portal (opens in a new window)">libraries.state.ma.us</a><br> </span> <span>Agency Site: <a 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Mass Libraries Legislative Agenda | FY2026