In this months News and Updates:

FY2023 Legislative Agenda

The MA Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) have released their FY2023 Legislative Agenda:

“No matter where you live or where you’re from, how much you earn, what your ability or age, how you identify, or who you love, Massachusetts libraries are in your corner. Effective and efficient, we’re leveraged pandemic—related funding to tackle some of the challenges facing the Commonwealth, and we’re not done yet. Increased funding to State Aid to Public Libraries (7000-9501) and State Aid to Regional Libraries (7000-9401) will help us keep going.”

View the full budget request and affiliate info sheets, including the MA Library System’s info sheet on the MBLC’s Legislative Agenda website: https://mblclegislativeagenda.com

 

Thank you, MLS Board Members

Thank you to our outgoing Executive Board Members, who have shared their time and expertise with our organization. We are grateful for your participation in MLS!

  • Matthew Berube, Board Member and Past Board President, Jones Library, Amherst
  • Elena Schuck, Board Member and Past Board Clerk, Nathaniel H. Wixon Intermediate School, Dennis
  • Liz Teoli, Board Member, Northern Essex Community College

Welcome to our newly elected board members:

  • Dr. Kim Cochrane, Fitchburg High School
  • Rebecca Morin, Worcester Art Museum
  • Sara Kelso, Newburyport Public Library

We’re looking forward to working with you! For more about our Executive Board, including our full roster and meeting minutes, please visit: https://guides.masslibsystem.org/executive-board

 

School Membership Renewal

It’s almost time for schools to renew their MLS membership. Our annual renewal process may appear a little different compared to past years; last year we suspended the renewal process to give schools the time to focus on the pandemic. This year renewed membership will take effect for July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.

Why are we starting the process so early?

MLS has over 900 school library members. Verifying that each location still has a librarian who meets the membership requirements takes time. Help us out by submitting your renewal form as soon as you receive it.

MLS needs your help to update our member directory information and to verify that libraries are eligible to receive MLS services. Services include custom links to the statewide databases; cooperative purchasing, and participation in Commonwealth eBook Collections (CEC) program (the OverDrive K-12 Shared Sora Collection).

This year we will begin the school membership renewal process in February starting with schools that are currently participating in the Commonwealth eBook Collections (CEC) program (the OverDrive K-12 Shared Sora Collection).

What is involved in the renewal process?

You will receive an initial email soon. We will ask you to follow a link to complete an online form. This form will ask for your contact information along with a series of questions to help determine membership eligibility. This information will be used to update both our internal records and our public directory – https://mblc.state.ma.us/directories/libraries/ .

When will this be happening?

  • February 7, 2022 – Members enrolled in OverDrive K-12 Shared Sora Collection (Commonwealth eBook Collections).
  • March 7, 2022 – All remaining School Members.
  • June 3, 2022 – Final deadline for membership renewal.

What is the program renewal process for schools participating in the Commonwealth eBook Collections program?

  • March 7, 2022 – Participating schools and/or district contacts will receive renewal information, including a quote for FY23 participation and will be asked to complete a brief form indicating the school/district’s program participation for next year.
  • June 3, 2022 – Final deadline to decide about FY23 program participation.

Questions about this program should be directed to Tressa Santillo, tressa@masslibsystem.org.

Please review our School Membership Requirements:

  • Public Secondary School
    High Schools must be staffed by a full-time certified school library teacher. A High School library teacher can only be responsible for one high school library; they cannot cover any other school library locations.
  • Public Primary School
    Elementary and Middle schools must be staffed by a certified school library teacher who may serve up to five different school libraries.
  • Private Secondary School
    Must be staffed by a full-time librarian who either (1) is a certified school library teacher or (2) has a master’s degree in library science. A High School library teacher can only be responsible for one high school library; they cannot cover any other school library locations.
  • Private Primary School
    Must be staffed by a librarian who either (1) is a certified school library teacher or (2) has a master’s degree in library science and who may serve up to five different schools.

If you have questions about your membership eligibility, please feel free to contact Amanda Fauver, amanda@masslibsystem.org prior to receiving your renewal form.

 

COVID Updates and Resources

COVID-19 rapid test kits available for purchase from MHEC

COVID-19 rapid test kits are available for purchase from our purchasing cooperative partner MHEC. Please visit the MHEC website for more information, including how to order.

MLS members have access to all the contracts that MHEC provides, not just the library-specific ones.

For more information about our work with MHEC, please visit our Purchasing Cooperative resource guide or contact Ryan Kidder, Strategic Sourcing Manager, MHEC.

 

From the Massachusetts Department of Public Health:

 

Over the counter (OTC) COVID-19 at-home antigen self-test kits are covered through the MassHealth pharmacy benefit.

Following the Biden administration’s guidance related to commercial insurance coverage of COVID-19 at-home tests, MassHealth is also now providing coverage of at-home tests for members.

The following OTC COVID-19 at-home antigen test kits have been added to the MassHealth Non-Drug Product List (Additional brands of tests will be added as they become available in pharmacies):

  • BinaxNOW
  • FlowFlex
  • IHealth
  • Inteliswab
  • QuickVue At-home

Up to eight test kits per member per month will be covered without the need for a prescription or prior authorization. Note that test kits may be packaged individually or with multiple test kits in one package; the limit without prior authorization is eight test kits per member per month, regardless of how they are packaged (e.g., four packages containing two test kits or eight packages containing one test kit will be covered without prior authorization).

If more than 8 tests are needed, MassHealth members may be able to have additional tests covered with a prescription from a medical professional.

Note: Members of MassHealth must purchase these tests at a pharmacy, including online pharmacy orders; if a member purchases COVID-19 tests through non-pharmacy retailers, such as Amazon, they cannot be reimbursed for those purchases according to federal rules.

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