Dear Massachusetts Library System (MLS) Members,
Today is MLS’s 15th Anniversary! Fifteen years ago today, the drastic budget changes in FY09 dictated a consolidation of our six regional library systems.
The past 15 years have brought many changes to our world and our profession, and I’m proud of the work MLS has done to adapt and respond to them. Since our last milestone in 2020, we’ve added more services and programs in response to member needs, including:
- Our Conference Scholarships
- Training Grants, including the Language Learning Grant
- Browse, Borrow, Board, in collaboration with the Boston Public Library’s Library for the Commonwealth and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
- New Commonwealth eBook Collections milestones, including ranking #2 in the world for annual circulations through the OverDrive K-12 Shared Sora Collection
- Concerted integration of DEI topics into our organization’s structure, services, and engagements
While these are all things we celebrate, I must acknowledge the most important part of our profession: the people. Beyond the press releases, the news reports, and commentary, it’s crucial to remember the quiet moments, the differences you make every day.
The work continues, whether it’s advocating for the right to read; finding an early reader the right book; integrating accessibility options into your services; or ensuring equitable service to the patron that comes in every day as well as the ones accessing resources at home.
MLS will continue to help you enhance the crucial work you do for your community. I often hear folks describe the library as the heart of a community, and while that is often true, I think that the library is often the soul of a community. It’s the intellectual energy that welcomes, encourages, supports, and engages people’s minds and hearts.
You make the library a library.
We continue to work with talented and knowledgeable folks, both on our staff and with our statewide collaborators.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the people that comprise MLS. Our volunteer executive board, committee and task force members, trainers, speakers, and service users are all critical to our success. I also thank our staff, who elevate library services in Massachusetts through their daily commitment to the library members we serve and the profession we are a part of.
MLS remains committed to offering critical services that strengthen every community across the Commonwealth. I look forward to seeing what we accomplish in the next 15 years.
Thank YOU!
Sincerely,
Sarah Sogigian
Executive Director
