All Yours Just Ask
Three branches will open late, due to a staff event.
Brightwood, East Forest Park, and East Springfield branches will open at 1pm on Friday, April 24, 2026. This delay is designed to accommodate a staff event in the morning.
Hours for all other branches will maintain their regular schedule.
The allocation is made possible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
by: John Budenas, Claire Overton / read on WWLP
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Federal funding has been secured to support a major renovation and expansion project at the East Springfield Branch Library.
Rep. Richard Neal joined Mayor Domenic Sarno, library leaders, and other city leaders on Monday to unveil a $500,000 allocation made possible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding was included in the FY2026 federal spending bill.
After nearly 100 years, the library on Osborne Terrace is getting torn down and completely rebuilt. Residents in the area say they are excited for what’s to come.
One thing I’ve learned after a couple decades on the Library Commission is when you build a new library, it’s a real gift to the neighborhood,” said Steve Cary, Chair of the Board of Library Commissioners. “It’s also a gift to the city, and that gift spreads well beyond the city line.”
The project will significantly expand and modernize the nearly century-old library, which serves more than 6,000 East Springfield residents and over 150,000 people citywide. Plans include expanding reading and programming areas for children, teens, and adults, adding quiet study rooms, upgrading building systems, and modernizing technology.
“Whether it be a school, a place of worship, or a library, there are certain institutions in a community that people come to identify with,” said Congressman Neal. “With the improvements that will take place at the East Springfield Library, we are ensuring this historic institution can continue to serve as a place for learning and opportunity for generations to come.”
Once completed, the library will offer about 6,000 square feet of usable space—more than double its current footprint.
“We can always count on ‘Richie,’ Congressman Neal, to deliver for our City of Springfield,” Mayor Sarno said. “This is a very proud day – our East Springfield Library branch has been providing successful and popular library services for our community since 1934 – and now we will move forward to enhance this neighborhood learning center so that it can serve our community for another 100 years.”
The East Springfield Branch Library, originally established in the early 20th century, has served as a key community resource for decades. Officials say the planned upgrades will help ensure it continues to meet residents’ needs well into the future.
The project is one of 15 Congressionally Directed Spending initiatives submitted by Rep. Neal for Fiscal Year 2026, totaling more than $14 million in investments across western Massachusetts.
Springfield was provisionally awarded $6,837,061 for construction of the East Springfield Branch.
Read at MA Board of Library Commissioners
At its March 5, 2026 board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded provisional construction grants totaling $29,111,051 to municipalities participating in the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Clinton was awarded $11,316,281 for the Clinton Public Library Project, Montague received $10,957,709 for the new Main Library, and Springfield was awarded $6,837,061 for the East Springfield Branch.
“Public libraries are needed now more than ever,” said MBLC Chair Vicky Biancolo. “These libraries stand for community, for education for all at any age, for reliable accurate information, for access to stories and ideas that represent the diverse world and experiences around us. We congratulate these communities as they move ahead with projects that will improve their communities and the lives of the people they serve.”
In Springfield, the new East Springfield Branch Library will be built on the existing lot of the current branch. The new energy-efficient facility will feature separate spaces for children, teens, and adults, with a children’s activity room and a community meeting room that can be used after hours.”
The new Montague Main Library will offer a separate teen room, a sizeable children’s room with its own program space, quiet study rooms, and a local history room. A large and fully accessible multipurpose room will be available for library and community events. The new library will also incorporate multiple spaces for art, reflecting Montague’s thriving arts community.
With a new 21,775 square foot facility, the project in Clinton will remedy the issues found in the current 1903 building. The new library will be universally accessible, with modern technology and ample interior spaces dedicated to children, teens, and adult patrons. The library will feature quiet study rooms, a local history room, a makerspace, a community room, and accessible restrooms on every floor.
Provisional construction grants for these projects are between 45 to 50% of their estimated total project costs. Libraries have until June 30, 2026 to confirm local funding to support the project. Commissioners also approved Green Library Incentives for Montague and Springfield in accordance with their intent to pursue net-zero library building projects. Montague will receive $328,731 and Springfield will get an additional $205,112 when they demonstrate compliance with one of the pathways to receive the incentive.
These projects were among the 13 approved for Planning and Design grants by the MBLC in January 2025 and recently completed the MPLCP Level of Design independent review, which ensures that each project is meeting MPLCP design guidelines. It is anticipated that five projects will be considered for provisional grants at the April 2026 board meeting. Blandford received its provisional construction award in December. Six projects that were waitlisted will receive provisional awards as funding becomes available.
The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program has benefitted more than 250 towns and cities since its inception in 1987. Funding to support the MPLCP‘s 2023-2024 grant round was included in the Mass Leads Act. MPLCP projects are underway in the following communities: Amherst, Blandford, Deerfield, Fitchburg, and Westford. Swansea Free Public Library, Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, and Shutesbury Library recently celebrated the completion of library projects. Learn more about the program on the MBLC website, the Building Literacy podcast, and the MPLCP Municipal Impact website.
In 2026, Springfield City Library is adding a Seed Library to every Branch!
Springfield City Library is expanding the Seed Library to all library Branches! Starting April 1, 2026, community members will be able to access FREE organic, non-GMO seeds at every library location to grow vegetables, greens, herbs, and flowers.
“If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need” – Cicero
The Springfield City Library is one of many libraries from across the nation that participates in the seed library movement! Originating in 1975 in the United Kingdom, seed libraries have spread all over the world to encourage growth of local plant species and preservation of seed varieties. Springfield City Library’s Seed Library brings us back to our roots in Springfield, connecting us to a history of farmers and growers of all kinds in Western Massachusetts. Grab some seeds and a shovel, and help local vegetables, greens, herbs, and flowers bloom in our community.
Springfield City Library’s Seed Library is made possible through generous donations from Vermont-based seed company High Mowing Organic Seeds, the Alliance of Native Seedkeepers, and UMass Amherst’s Common Seed Project. Thank you to these organizations for supplying seeds for urban gardening, vegetable gardens, container gardens, flower gardens, and more in Springfield, Massachusetts!
Help us celebrate the Seed Library with these special events, where you’ll receive a packet of the 2026 Common Seed: Hopi Black Dye Sunflower.
Seed Library Launch Party: Earth Day Planters
Sixteen Acres Branch Children’s Room
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 1:00pm–2:00pm
East Springfield Branch
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 3:00pm–4:00pm
Mason Square Branch
Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 4:00pm–5:00pm
To help spread the seeds all across the City, seed envelopes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. We ask that patrons take no more than 5 seed envelopes per library visit to help share the inventory. Each envelope contains enough seeds to grow at least a square foot of the plant.
Below you’ll find a list of varieties available in our Seed Library. Visit your local library Branch to see what seeds are in stock, to check out books on gardening, and to get help finding answers to all your growing questions!
Visit the Library’s website for the locations and hours of your nearest Branch.
| Category | Name of Plant |
|---|---|
| Bean | Maxibel Haricot Vert Bean |
| Bean | Rattlesnake Pole Bean |
| Bean | Northeaster Pole Bean |
| Bean | Compass Filet Bush Bean |
| Bean | Mardi Grad Blend Bean |
| Beet | Guardsmark Chiogga Beet |
| Beet | Touchstone Gold Beet |
| Beet | Red Ace Beet |
| Beet | Detroit Dark Red Beet |
| Broccoli | Waltham 29 Broccoli |
| Broccoli | De Cicco Broccoli |
| Broccoli | Belstar Broccoli |
| Cabbage | Golden Acre Cabbage |
| Cabbage | Amarant Cabbage |
| Cabbage | Caraflex Cabbage |
| Cabbage | Tiara Cabbage |
| Carrot | Dolciva Carrot |
| Carrot | Starburst Carrot Blend |
| Carrot | Naval Carrot |
| Carrot | Lila Lu Carrot |
| Carrot | Negovia Carrot |
| Cauliflower | Adona Cauliflower |
| Celery | Tango Celery |
| Chard | Fordhook Giant Chard |
| Chard | Sunset Chard |
| Cucumber | Shintokiwa Cucumber |
| Cucumber | Green Finger Cucumber |
| Cucumber | National Pickling Cucumber |
| Cucumber | Marketmore 76 Cucumber |
| Eggplant | Listada di Gandia Eggplant |
| Eggplant | Black Beauty Eggplant |
| Eggplant | Ping Tung Long Eggplant |
| Fennel | Preludio Fennel |
| Flowers (misc) | Sensation Blend Cosmos |
| Flowers (misc) | Black Beauty Poppy |
| Flowers (misc) | Planète Rouge du Jura Poppy |
| Flowers (misc) | Nigella |
| Flowers (misc) | Nasturtium Blend |
| Flowers (misc) | Resina Calendula |
| Greens | Bopak Pak Choi |
| Greens | Tat Soi Asian Green |
| Greens | Champion Collard Greens |
| Herbs | Bouquet Dill |
| Herbs | Greensleeves Dill |
| Herbs | Genovese Basil |
| Herbs | Thyme |
| Herbs | Grüne Perle Parsley |
| Herbs | Italian Flat Leaf Parsley |
| Herbs | Chives |
| Herbs | Santo Cilantro |
| Kale | Lacinato Dinosaur Kale |
| Kale | Ironman Kale Mix |
| Kale | Meadowlark Kale |
| Kale | Red Russian Kale |
| Leek | Tadorna Leek |
| Lettuce | New Red Fire Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Optima Butterhead Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Salad Bowl Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Green Towers Romaine Lettuce |
| Lettuce | High Mowing Blend Mesclun Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Pirat Butterhead Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Lovelock Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Freckles Lettuce |
| Lettuce | Red Planet Lettuce Salad Blend |
| Melon | True Love Melon |
| Melon | Moon & Stars Watermelon |
| Melon | Sugar Baby Watermelon |
| Melon | Blacktail Mountain Watermelon |
| Okra | Clemson Spineless 80 Okra |
| Onion | Cortland Onion |
| Onion | Red Geneva Cippolini Onion |
| Onion | Ailsa Craig Onion |
| Parsnip | Halblange Parsnip |
| Peas | Cascadia Snap Pea |
| Peas | Laxton’s Progress #9 Shell Pea |
| Peas | Mammoth Melting Snow Pea |
| Peas | Sweet Gem Sugar Snap Pea |
| Pepper, Hot | Early Jalepeno Hot Pepper |
| Pepper, Hot | Shishito Pepper |
| Pepper, Hot | Ring-O-Fire Cayenne Hot Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | King of the North Sweet Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | Picnic Orange Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | Golden California Wonder Sweet Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | California Wonder Sweet Pepper |
| Pepper, Sweet | HMS Red Picnic Pepper |
| Radish | Cherry Belle Radish |
| Radish | Sora Radish |
| Radish | Valentine’s Day Blend Radish |
| Radish | Daikon-type Radish |
| Radish | French Breakfast Radish |
| Spinach | Renegade Spinach |
| Spinach | Butterflay Spinach |
| Squash, Winter | Howden Pumpkin |
| Squash, Winter | Jack Be Little Pumpkin |
| Squash, Winter | Waltham Butternut Winter Squash |
| Squash, Winter | Burgess Butternut Winter Squash |
| Squash, Winter | Sweet REBA Acorn Squash |
| Squash, Summer | Yellow Crookneck Summer Squash |
| Sunflowers | Hella Sonnenblume Sunflower |
| Sunflowers | Goldy Double Sunflower |
| Sunflowers | Evening Colors Sunflower |
| Tomato | Sweetie Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | Toma Verde Tomatillo |
| Tomato | Cherokee Purple Tomato |
| Tomato | Mountain Princess Tomato |
| Tomato | Black Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | San Marzano Paste Tomato |
| Tomato | Peacevine Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | Green Zebra Tomato |
| Tomato | Matt’s Wild Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | Amish Paste Tomato |
| Tomato | Pink Champagne Cherry Tomato |
| Tomato | Supernova Grape Tomato |
| Tomato | Brandywine Tomato |
| Zinnias | County Fair Blend Zinnias |
| Zinnias | Red Scarlet Zinnia |
| Zinnias | Giant Coral Zinnia |
| Zinnias | Dwarf Thumbolina Zinnia |
| Zinnias | Yellow Zinnia |
| Zucchini | Dark Green Zucchini |
| Zucchini | Cocozelle Zucchini |
Designs for a new building are complete.
By: Jeanette DeForge
SPRINGFIELD – The city has moved one step closer to replacing the East Springfield Branch Library. Designs for a new building are complete.
“We submitted the preliminary schematic and related documents last week to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. They are all under review now,” said Jean M. Canosa Albano, assistant director for public services for Springfield City Libraries.
A year ago, the state board awarded the city a $100,000 planning and design grant and the City Council matched it with $150,000 in funding. The state award came with a promise for a future construction grant.
For the past year, library officials, the architect and East Springfield Neighborhood Council have worked with the state to develop a design. It includes a floor plan for a library that will meet the needs of the neighborhood and fit state requirements and local needs, said Kathy Brown, president of the East Springfield Neighborhood Council.
Initially, city officials expected to expand and renovate the existing building on Osborne Terrace. That has changed to a plan to tear down the existing building and replace it with a new library.
“We looked at everything and with the current building codes, it was not possible,” Brown said.
The plan now is to build a new library that will measure between 8,000 and 9,000 square feet. The current library is just 3,100 square feet in size and is mostly one room. Creative uses of bookcases and furniture divide the room into sections for computers and a children’s area.
There were concerns the lot, which measures about 0.4 acres, would be too small for a new larger building. But by using all the available property, the architect made it fit — and even included a parking lot that will have about eight spaces. Now, all parking is on the street, Brown said.
“We looked for another location in the neighborhood heavy and hard, but there were none,” she said.
Plans call for a one-story building that will have separate spaces for a children’s room, a computer room and a small office for staff. They include a community room with a separate entrance that can be locked off from the rest of the library so it can be used when the branch is closed.
It was a challenge to fit in all the amenities library users thought were needed. A community room was especially wanted, since there are few meeting places in the area, Brown said.
There is no official cost for the project since full architect drawings are not complete. One estimate puts it at $9.5 million.
Brown said she expects there will be a fundraising component to the project, as there was for the new East Forest Park Library. In that project, completed in 2019, the Springfield Library Foundation reached its goal of raising $2 million about a year ago.
In East Springfield, the group is searching for a location where the busy library branch can be temporarily relocated, between the time the old building is razed and the new building is finished.
If all goes according to plan, the new building could be completed in 2028 or 2029, Brown said.
The Springfield City Library is hoping to get 2,000 or more city residents to answer a survey that will help shape the library’s future strategic plan.
by Ryan Feyre | Jul 23, 2025 | Read at The Reminder.
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Library is hoping to get 2,000 or more city residents to answer a survey that will help shape the library’s future strategic plan.
Community Relations Coordinator Jamillah Medina Nova said the library has circulated surveys in the past, particularly for its 2020-2024 strategic plan, but this one is expected to be “bigger” and more widespread.
“We’re looking for 2,000 responses so we can have a really good indication from all different neighborhoods, all different walks of life,” she said in an interview. “We really want everyone’s input.”
The survey’s questions cover anything from, “how often you use the library,” to “what do you like to do at the library,” according to Nova. Additionally, there are agree or disagree questions such as “does the library have enough space for your needs,” “is it up to date in technology” and “how important are the different resources to you.”
“[The survey] is basically measuring the importance of our services and what we have to offer,” Nova said. “We’re making sure that we’re aligned with our mission, vision and values, [and] the community’s eyes as well.”
The Springfield City Library is using ReThinking Libraries as a consultant for the survey and eventual strategic plan, according to Nova. The organization will be spearheading community listening sessions in September and October at the city’s local branches to help steer the planning process.
Nova said the survey will roll into the fall before the City Library officially institutes the strategic plan.
“Right now, we want to get as many [survey respondents] as possible through the fall,” Nova said. “I think we’ll start finalizing the details in November, December so that we can be ready for the new year to have [the plan] finalized.”
In addition to the survey, Nova said people have the option of visiting the City Library’s branches to vote for their favorite services using a visual voting board.
Available in English and Spanish, Nova shared that the boards allow people to list the top five services they would love to see at their local branches.
“There will be different ways to hear people’s input,” Nova said. “They’ll be able to vote with the visual voting boards, take the survey, and then we invite everyone to come out to our listening sessions [when the dates are out].”
According to the City Library, the survey is available to the public in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Swahili, and in both online and paper formats to ensure accessibility. Nova said this initiative along with the $10,000 Library Card Campaign are two of the many ways Springfield City Library is trying to engage with the public in a post-pandemic landscape.
“After COVID, it was hard to get people back into any building,” Nova said. “But our resources are here and they’re growing and they’re going to continue to grow. So, we just want to make sure that we’re connecting with everyone, meeting them where they’re at, especially with digital access.”
Founded in 1857, the Springfield City Library provides over 800,000 free print, physical and digital resources for public enrichment. Readers will find the survey on its website. According to Nova, it will take about 10 minutes to complete.
The challenge kicks off June 23, running through July and August.
From the Springfield Republican
SPRINGFIELD — Rachel Gravel is laying down a seven-figure challenge for readers in Springfield. She wants several thousand children and adults to collectively read for one million minutes during the summer break from school.
“We’re encouraging folks to go for it. Level up your reading game, and let’s try and get a million minutes together as a community,” said Gravel, who is manager of adult and youth information services at Springfield City Library.
The challenge kicks off June 23, running through July and August. Gravel said she hopes to triple the number of people who joined the library’s summer reading program last year — from fewer than 1,000 to 3,000 readers.
She told The Republican that group read around 250,000 minutes.
If Springfield hopes to hit the million-minute mark with 3,000 readers, each person will have to read 5½ minutes a day for 60 days.
“This is an opportunity to really go for gold,” she said.
Each summer, some 400,000 Massachusetts children, teens and adults join library reading programs, according to Massachusetts Libraries Board of Library Commissioners. Nearly every library in Western Massachusetts is running programs, which are free and open to the public.
Research shows if students do not read over the summer, they lose reading, comprehension and critical-thinking skills, according to Scholastic Parents.
“Kids lose significant knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which tends to have a snowball effect as they experience subsequent skill loss each year. (Another) study showed students lost about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math,” according to Scholastic Parents.
The Holyoke Public Library has summer reading programs for children, teens and adults, and has been marketing them to the public through city departments and speaking directly to children in school.
“We try and get the entire community involved, from birth to 99-plus. We want everyone participating,” said Nathan Hayes, the children’s librarian in Holyoke.
Like many libraries, Holyoke has a kickoff party and ongoing events that promote reading for the entire summer. Depending on the library, there can be magicians, clowns, face painting, music, games, ice cream socials — and prizes are everywhere.
The Springfield Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from PeoplesBank to support the Springfield City Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program, “Level Up At Your Library.”
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Library Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from PeoplesBank to support the Springfield City Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program, “Level Up At Your Library.”
The funding will allow the library to expand programming and outreach efforts at its nine branches and through partnerships with local organizations. The initiative aims to boost participation and engagement among children, teens, and adults across the city.
“We are very grateful to PeoplesBank for their stalwart support of the Library,” said Matt Blumenfeld, Executive Director of the Springfield Library Foundation. “PeoplesBank’s investment matches funds that comes directly from the Library Foundation and will provide the City Library with critical resources to expand outreach and impact of this vital and fun program.”
This year’s theme, “Level Up At Your Library,” encourages community members to collectively reach a goal of one million minutes read over the summer. The program also aims to register more than 3,000 participants.
“This summer our mantra is One Million Reading Minutes,” said Rachel Gravel, the Library’s Manager of Adult & Youth Information Services. “We have set an ambitious goal and want to increase participation in the program to 3,000 children, youth and adults this summer.”
Matt Bannister, PeoplesBank’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, presented the grant to the foundation. “Our commitment to the community is demonstrated through volunteerism and financial support and we see this grant as an investment in encouraging and inspiring new generations of life-long learners and readers. We are proud to support the Library Foundation and, in turn, the City Library to expand their reach and impact.”
The Summer Reading Program will begin in June with kickoff events for all ages, including a system-wide adult summer reading launch on June 12 at the Mason Square Branch. The season will wrap up with a city-wide End of Summer Celebration on August 23.
Activities funded by the grant include music classes, musical petting zoos, the Story City series, mobile arcade games, virtual reality experiences, role-playing and board game clubs, BINGO, and escape rooms. Children and teens who sign up will receive a free book of their choice, and participants will be eligible for weekly prizes as they track their reading progress.
All events and activities are free and open to the public. More information, including a full schedule, is available on their website. Springfield City Library continues to position itself as a vital hub for community wellness and support.
The Springfield City Library is rolling out a citywide initiative this summer aimed at supporting the mental health of teenagers.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield City Library is rolling out a citywide initiative this summer aimed at supporting the mental health of teenagers, offering a range of free programs from May through September across all library branches.
The “Teen Mental Health Events” series is designed to help teens navigate the challenges of adolescence through activities that connect physical health, creative expression, and emotional resilience. With workshops and interactive sessions scheduled throughout the summer, the initiative seeks to provide tools and resources for mental wellness in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
“We understand that navigating the teenage years can bring unique challenges, and prioritizing mental health is crucial,” said Teen Services Librarian Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe, who is leading the project. “Our goal with this series is to empower teens with practical tools and knowledge while fostering a sense of community and connection across our city.”
The event series will include:
Events are open to all teens in Springfield and will rotate through various library locations to ensure accessibility across neighborhoods. No registration is required unless noted for specific sessions.
Complete schedules, including dates, times, and locations, will be posted on the Springfield City Library’s website and shared via the library’s social media channels.
In addition to traditional educational resources, the Springfield City Library continues to position itself as a vital hub for community wellness and support.
Local libraries are primarily funded by local property taxes to operate, but they depend on federal dollars to pay for statewide services, like databases and e-books, that interconnect every library
April 2, 2025. Read at WBUR.org for more content.
Libraries across Massachusetts are worried about how they’ll provide vital services such as interlibrary loans, e-books and access to databases in the wake of an executive order President Trump signed Monday.
The state gets $3.6 million in federal funding for library services, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners distributes that money to local libraries to supplement their budgets. This funding pipeline was disrupted this week when Trump ordered the entire staff of the Institute of Museums and Library Services to be placed on paid leave for 90 days, effectively halting the processing of grant dollars.
Maureen Amyot, director of the state library board, said concern had been building since the Trump administration’s first pause on federal funding in January, but she and her colleagues were still shocked when Monday’s executive order came down.
Amyot and her board worry they’ll have to cut funding to local libraries if the federal money doesn’t start flowing again soon. Any cuts would disrupt services that libraries must provide to the public under state law, she said.
Local libraries are primarily funded by local property taxes to operate, but they depend on federal dollars to pay for statewide services, like databases and e-books, that interconnect every library. Without those federal dollars, libraries would not be able to afford those services on their own, and the state would not be able to make up the difference, Amyot said.
While the order leaves the grants in limbo, Amyot said, the staff also wonders what will come next from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is firing workers across federal agencies.
“It’s such a fluid situation right now – everything is changing – that we’re just sort of in a holding pattern,” she said.
Libraries across the state are awaiting word from the Massachusetts library board about funding cuts or delays. Their level of concern varies depending on how much they rely on federal money. In a community like Waltham, the public library is fully funded by the city, while federal funding helps pay for staff salaries in Amherst.
Libraries can also apply directly for funding through the state library board’s three grant categories — Explore, Impact and Inspire — provided by IMLS’s federal dollars. Before Monday’s executive order, Amyot said the board was set to award 18 libraries with smaller “Explore Grants,” which come in $4,000 and $7,500 checks totaling $93,000 in awards. They allow smaller libraries to implement things like English learning classes, citizenship resources and preservation services.
Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director at Springfield City Library, said her library is scheduled to receive one of those grants. It would help purchase materials for people who want to gain U.S. citizenship and improve English language skills, highly desirable resources in her community.
Now, they have to wait.
“If we did not have [MBLC’s] expertise or the services they help provide, we would not be able to quickly rush in and fill that void that will be left,” Albano said. “We don’t have those funds elsewhere.”
Another concern is funding for information access. That’s secured through June 30, but librarians worry about how they’ll pay for databases and subscriptions after that date, especially for patrons who can’t afford to subscribe to periodicals they enjoy. The impact is expansive: Last year, Massachusetts residents downloaded over 9 million texts, according to the MLBC, and 60% of database usage comes from schools.
“These databases are not only for researchers but also for families who are going to buy their next car [looking] up Consumer Reports,” said Sharon Sharry, director of Jones Library in Amherst. “It’s the way people can afford information.”
The statewide e-book and summer reading programs are also paid for with federal funding, and many libraries say they would not be able to fund them locally.
Boston Public Library has received several hundred thousand dollars to support things like curriculum development and digitization of resources, such as an online high school program for adults. BPL president David Leonard said he worries about funding for next year and hopes Congress will act to preserve IMLS.
“Is this something that Congress can act on, because support for libraries and museums nationwide has generally been a very bipartisan act?” Leonard said. “We just don’t know.”
Librarians hope politicians representing Republican-leaning states will step up to protect funding. In response to Trump’s initial order for IMLS to be “eliminated to the maximum extent,” a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to the administration defending federal funding for both cultural institutions.
“We are so lucky to live in Massachusetts, where library services are supported by our state officials,” Sharry said. “On the flip side, we are kind of left preaching to the choir … What we really need are people in the red states to advocate.”
Andrea Fiorillo, head of public services at the Reading Public Library, said her library is using a $20,000 grant for a program called “Rooted in Reading,” which explores community gardening. She pointed out that federal funding for libraries constitutes a miniscule portion of the federal budget.
“That comes out to about 87 cents per person per year,” said Fiorillo, who co-chairs the Massachusetts Library Association’s intellectual freedom committee. “What libraries turn around for our communities with that little bit of funding is almost miraculous. We take our tiny little bit and we just create these vibrant community centers.”
