Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
Encyclopedia
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (est.1890) is a state agency
that supports public libraries in Massachusetts
. The governor appoints each member of the board. The current board consists of librarians, academics and library trustees
: Katherine K. Dibble, Francis R. Murphy, Mary Rose Quinn, Carol B. Caro, George T. Comeau, Vicki L. Kaufman, Em Claire Knowles, Gregory J. Shesko, and Alice M. Welch.
. It was the first of its kind in the United States. In 1890, the board consisted of Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, Samuel Swett Green
, Henry Stedman Nourse, Elizabeth P. Sohier, and Anna E. Ticknor
. Other early members of the commission included Mabel Simpkins Agassiz, Anna Sears Amory, Deloraine P. Corey.
In its first years of existence, the board accomplished significant fulfillment of its mission. In 1890 "105 towns in the Commonwealth were without a free public library. Twenty years later, in 1910, every city and town, with one exception, had a library of its own."
The name of the agency changed in 1952 from the "Massachusetts Board of Free Public Library Commissioners" to the "Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners." As of the 1990s it was "responsible for library development and resource sharing." As of 2010, "the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board also strives to provide every resident of the Commonwealth with full and equal access to library information resources regardless of geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability, or cultural background." It operates from offices in Boston
's North End.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
that supports public libraries in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The governor appoints each member of the board. The current board consists of librarians, academics and library trustees
Friends of Libraries
Friends of Libraries USA are non-profit charitable, groups formed to support libraries in their communities. Friends of Libraries groups are often involved in fundraising, advocacy, volunteerism,public awareness campaigns, and literacy programs.-See also:...
: Katherine K. Dibble, Francis R. Murphy, Mary Rose Quinn, Carol B. Caro, George T. Comeau, Vicki L. Kaufman, Em Claire Knowles, Gregory J. Shesko, and Alice M. Welch.
History
The agency originated as the Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission "to encourage the establishment of libraries by direct aid and to give advice relating to the maintenance and administration of libraries" in MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. It was the first of its kind in the United States. In 1890, the board consisted of Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, Samuel Swett Green
Samuel Swett Green
Samuel Swett Green was a founding figure in America’s public library movement.Considered by many to be the "father of reference work", laying the groundwork for widespread reform within the field , he opened his Presidential Address to the American Library Association in 1891 with the memorable...
, Henry Stedman Nourse, Elizabeth P. Sohier, and Anna E. Ticknor
Anna Eliot Ticknor
Anna Eliot Ticknor was an author and educator from Boston, Massachusetts. In 1873, Ticknor founded the Society to Encourage Studies at Home which was the first correspondence school in the United States...
. Other early members of the commission included Mabel Simpkins Agassiz, Anna Sears Amory, Deloraine P. Corey.
In its first years of existence, the board accomplished significant fulfillment of its mission. In 1890 "105 towns in the Commonwealth were without a free public library. Twenty years later, in 1910, every city and town, with one exception, had a library of its own."
The name of the agency changed in 1952 from the "Massachusetts Board of Free Public Library Commissioners" to the "Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners." As of the 1990s it was "responsible for library development and resource sharing." As of 2010, "the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board also strives to provide every resident of the Commonwealth with full and equal access to library information resources regardless of geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability, or cultural background." It operates from offices in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's North End.
Issued by the Commission
- Annual reports. v.1-8 (1891-1898); v.9 (1899); v.10-18 (1900-1908); v.19-24 (1909-1914); v.25-27 (1915-1917); v.28-51 (1918-1940); 1998-present.
- C.B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. 1891.
- General library legislation of Massachusetts, [1798-1890]. ca.1891.
- Henry Stedman Nourse, ed. Free public libraries of Massachusetts. 9th Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1899. Google books
- Zaidee Brown. Directions for the librarian of a small library, rev. ed. 1911.
- John Foster Carr. What the library can do for our foreign-born. 1913
- Alice G. Chandler. Country library versus the donor and the architect. Boston: 1915.
- Jane Maud Campbell. Selected list of Russian books. Compiled for the Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission. American Library Association Publishing Board, 1916.
- Free public library buildings of Massachusetts: a roll of honor, 1918. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1919
About the Commission
- "Books for the masses: success of free libraries in Massachusetts; their establishment encouraged by gift of money from the state - only 53 towns unprovided - work of the Free Library Commission." New York Times, Jan. 30, 1893
- Thurston Taylor. Review of Verschoor and Bundy's Regional Library Systems Development in Massachusetts: A Report of an Investigation with Recommendations (Boston: Massachusetts Division of Library Extension, 1963). In: Library Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Jan., 1965), pp. 68-69.
- Patricia Nealon. Libraries welcome release of state funds; cramped, aging facilities await work. Boston Globe, Aug 26, 1990. pg. 1
- Sandy Coleman. Underfunded libraries losing grants Unable to meet state budget standards, towns face decertification and loss of aid. Boston Globe, Feb 16, 1992. pg. 1
- Alison O'Leary Murray. Libraries await decisions by state board. Boston Globe, Jan 28, 2007. pg. 4
- Kathleen Burge. State's grants elude libraries; Some did, some couldn't; Communities find matching funds are casualties of recession economy. Boston Globe, Nov 18, 2010. pg. 1
See also
- Massachusetts Library SystemMassachusetts Library SystemThe Massachusetts Library System is "a state-supported collaborative" in Massachusetts with a mission to "foster ... cooperation, communication, innovation, and sharing among member libraries of all types" and "to provide regional services to libraries and residents." Members may include "public,...
, funded by MBLC - List of public libraries in Massachusetts
- Public library movement