Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners facts for kids
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) was started in 1890. It is a special state group that helps libraries all over Massachusetts. The governor of Massachusetts chooses the people who serve on this board. These people are often librarians, teachers, or library supporters. The current board members are Carol B. Caro, Mary Ann Cluggish, George T. Comeau, Mary Kronholm, Frank Murphy, Roland Ochsenbein, Janine Resnik, Gregory J. Shesko, and Alice M. Welch.
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How the MBLC Started and Grew
The MBLC began in 1890. It was first called the Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission. Its main goal was to help create new libraries. It also gave advice on how to run libraries well in Massachusetts. This group was the very first of its kind in the United States.
Early Leaders and Their Impact
In 1890, the first board members were Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, Samuel Swett Green, Henry Stedman Nourse, Elizabeth Putnam Sohier, and Anna Eliot Ticknor. It's important to know that Elizabeth Putnam Sohier and Anna Eliot Ticknor were the first women ever chosen for a state library group in the U.S. Other early members included Mabel Simpkins Agassiz, Anna Sears Amory, and Deloraine P. Corey.
The board quickly made a big difference. In 1890, 105 towns in Massachusetts did not have a free public library. Just 20 years later, by 1910, almost every town and city had its own library. This shows how successful the commission was in its early years.
Changing Names and Roles
The name of the group changed in 1952. It went from the "Massachusetts Board of Free Public Library Commissioners" to the "Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners." By the 1990s, the MBLC was in charge of helping libraries grow. It also helped libraries share their resources with each other.
Today, the MBLC is the state agency that helps organize and improve library services. It works to make sure everyone in Massachusetts can use library resources. This means no matter where you live, how much money you have, your age, or your background, you should have access to libraries. The MBLC has offices in the North End area of Boston.
Related Library Resources
- Massachusetts Library System: This system gets money from the MBLC.
- List of public libraries in Massachusetts: A list of all public libraries in the state.
- Public library movement: Learn about how public libraries became popular.
