-- Ms. Maureen Amyot, Director, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
 

Project Examples

Strength in Families

The Holyoke Public Library worked with community partners to improve strategies for family engagement. Project activities included the addition of new educational materials including audio books to the library’s circulating collection; library staff and members of project partner organizations that work with parents and families received training on family engagement. The project also allowed access to searchable and printable educational materials geared toward young learners (Pre-K to grade 6).

At the Table

This hands-on culinary literacy and cultural foodways program included programming and presentations at two public libraries: Turner Free Library and Southboro Library. Presentations included a series on how to grow food at home, Composting 101, seed saving to seed planting, preserving homegrown vegetables, how to make flavorful soups without sodium, and grilling safety. Enhance Asian Community Health (EACH) presented two nutrition programs, one in Chinese and one in Vietnamese, at a subsidized senior supportive housing community. The presentations focused on healthier eating, nutrition facts, and provided information on how to prepare, cook, and portion food for healthier meals. Virtual cooking classes were provided by both libraries on items such as Burmese Curry, Dim Sum, and Cantonese cooking.

STEM and STEAM

This project supported STEM and STEAM training opportunities for library staff, advisory services, and grant opportunities at individual libraries. Staff from the StarNet Foundation provided the Solar Eclipse Activities in Libraries (SEAL) workshop to public library staff, which introduced information on the two major Solar eclipses taking place in October 2023 and April 2024. Attendees received hands-on training on operating solar telescopes, best practices for developing and facilitating STEM programs, and engaging with community partners and library-specific digital resource networks. Offering in-depth training prepares public library staff to facilitate meaningful solar and space science programs for their communities that build curiosity, knowledge, and inspiration.

Review recent Grants to States projects from this state library in the State Program Report database.

Search the Awarded Grants Database for additional details about awards in this state or view the State Details Dashboard.

Five-Year Plan Highlights

Goal 1: Promote Learning and Skill Development - Massachusetts residents will have opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that enable them to reach their educational and personal goals, resolve real life issues, and advance their economic and employment ambitions. 

• Projects include:
  • Summer Reading support, including subgrants 
  • Subgrants for pre/early literacy initiatives
  • Subgrants for active learning, such as makerspace activities and story-walks 
  • Subgrants for financial literacy 
  • Subgrants for health and wellness 
  • Subgrants for parenting initiatives 
  • Subgrants for workforce and business development initiatives 

Goal 2: Enable Access - Massachusetts residents will have convenient access to relevant, high-quality information resources in formats that they can use to achieve their educational, occupational, and personal/recreational goals.

• Projects include:
  • Enhanced finding and sharing tools 
  • Databases/electronic resources 
  • Other e-content 
  • Outreach to the underserved, including subgrants

Goal 3: Strengthen Libraries - Massachusetts residents will be served by local libraries that employ knowledgeable, community-focused staff members who incorporate the best professional practices and up-to-date technologies to deliver relevant, high-quality library services.

• Projects include:
  • Staff and trustee development and training 
  • Subgrants for preservation, conservation, digitization, and disaster preparedness 
  • Library planning, development, and support 

Goal 4: Build Thriving Communities - Massachusetts residents will have opportunities to discover and explore their personal and community histories, dialogue with other community members, engage new Americans, and to participate in and contribute to the vitality of their communities. 

• Projects include:
  • Subgrants for Building Community Through the Historical Record 
  • Building Community Through Inclusion and Interaction, including subgrants such as language circles and citizenship corners 

IMLS Data Collection

State Library Administrative Agency Survey
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Public Libraries Survey
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