In this seventh and last episode of the transformational impact series, we ask our panel of dedicated library administrators from across the Commonwealth, who represent urban, suburban, and rural libraries, to share any final thoughts about their experiences, leading to a short discussion about the elevation of the perception of the library and the cycle many libraries find themselves in prior to a building project.

This sixth installment of seven bite-sized episodes on the transformational impact of new libraries focuses on the community’s response to the new building. While we may think it is about voicing awe at the architectural details and the aesthetic beauty, the loudest response is in the use. Our panel of dedicated library administrators from across the Commonwealth, who represent urban, suburban, and rural libraries share what they have noticed and heard the most since opening their doors.

The fifth of seven bite-sized episodes that capture the transformational impact of six new libraries, this episode focuses on sustainability and resilience measures. Hear library administrators from across the Commonwealth, who represent urban, suburban, and rural libraries discuss thermal comfort, healthy air, better energy bills or lack thereof, and the library serving as a teaching tool within their community.

The fourth in a series on transformational impact, this episode focuses on how flexibility of spaces has allowed the six new libraries to adapt to changing needs or circumstances. Hear library administrators from urban, suburban, and rural libraries discuss how they can reconfigure their library, utilize spaces in various ways, and be able to say yes to services and programming.

In this third episode in the seven-part series on the transformational impact of six new libraries throughout the Commonwealth, our panel of library administrators shares how the new facility has changed their communities, attitudes about the library, and the services they offer.

In the second episode in the Transformational Impact series, the directors and assistant directors of six new libraries across the Commonwealth share stories of community members discovering or rediscovering their new library. Learn what has brought them into the library and how this has impacted visitor, circulation, and room reservation statistics.

From our daily work, we know that newly renovated, expanded, and constructed libraries are transformational for individuals, families, community groups and the staff that serve them. It is time to celebrate the results of so many people working long hours, overcoming adversity, and investing millions of dollars all for a public good. Welcome to the first in a seven-part series of bite-sized episodes that capture the impact six new libraries have had in their communities via the words of...

We are joined by Lisa Oldham, the President and CEO of New Canaan Library, and Miki Porta, the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Coordinator for the New Canaan Library for this second episode of a two-part series focusing on their new library, which opened in February 2023. We discuss the impact of their decisions for both the building and the library’s service model as it relates to the community they serve. We will hear about everything from unexpected connections to a learning framewor...

In this first episode of a two-part series, Lisa Oldham, the President and CEO of New Canaan Library, and Miki Porta, the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Coordinator for the New Canaan Library, discuss the design and construction process for their new library, which opened in February 2023. From fundraising 75% of the total project cost to participating as a pilot with Grace Farms’ Design for Freedom initiative, their project involved some rare and unique circumstances and elements. Lea...

On this very Massachusetts-focused episode, learn more about the Supplier Diversity Office's (SDO) Municipal Construction Affirmative Marketing Program (MCAMP) from our guest, Meghan Costa. Any State-assisted vertical construction project above $150,000 must comply with project-specific goals for participation of women-owned business enterprises (WBEs) and minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs). We discuss how goals are set, what compliance entails, and the resources available for OPMs, m...

This episode focuses on a very special role: part therapist, part mediator, part wrangler of budget and schedule. It is none other than the role of the Owners' Project Manager. This is a required role on any public project in Massachusetts that is worth over $1.5 million. We were lucky enough to sit down on zoom with John Sayre-Scibona of Design Technique, before he starts a new chapter as a gentleman of leisure and closes the doors to his boutique OPM firm, to discuss the role and responsibi...

Essentially a letter to the architect, the Library Building Program is a document that is the basis of design for any library building project at any scale. It provides context, includes community input, and details the areas and adjacencies that need to be incorporated in any design work, all with a focus on function. Learn the components that comprise this document, and hear from not only the MBLC's library building specialists but also from library directors who have been through the proce...

In our last episode we learned about the broad goals of the Commonwealth’s Climate Act and Executive Order 594’s implications for the State’s portfolio of buildings. In this episode, we dig a little deeper into what resources, incentives, and grants are available to the Commonwealth’s municipalities, and, in turn, libraries, to better position our local governments in meeting our ambitious energy goals outlined in the aforementioned legislation. We are fortunate to have wonderful State collea...

In this episode, we discuss the Commonwealth’s new Act Creating a Next Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy and Executive Order 594 with Eric Friedman, the Director of the Leading by Example Program, which is a division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. From a higher level perspective, we explore what this new legislation means for our municipal libraries and how to reduce carbon emissions and plan for a clean energy future.

On this episode of Building Literacy, we talk campaign finance law with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance's Communications and Education Director Jason Tait. In previous episodes of our advocacy stories series, we have mentioned both the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (https://www.ocpf.us/) and the State Ethics Commission (https://www.mass.gov/orgs/state-ethics-commission) as offices to consult with any questions about advocacy or fundraising. Jason describes in det...

In this episode in our series entitled Advocacy Stories, we discuss messaging, communications plans, and marketing for libraries with the MBLC's Communications Team: Celeste Bruno and Matthew Perry. While we touch upon issues related to library building projects, the tips and tricks our in-house experts share are scalable to any subject pertaining to libraries. It is important to note that when we use the term library in this episode, we mean it as a sum of parts, including the Administration...

In this episode, we are taking a mini detour from the nuts and bolts of Advocacy to focus on the financial component of public library building projects. While many projects like these have a combination of funding sources- municipal funding, grants, private fundraising, etc., most of the conversation revolves around the impact on taxes. In order to understand the landscape of local taxes in Massachusetts, we reached out to the Division of Local Services (DLS). Sean Cronin, the Senior D...

On this episode of Building Literacy: Public Library Construction, we delve into the ducts of HVAC systems. HVAC, as you may know, stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and does include dehumidification as well. Reopening libraries during a pandemic has brought the topic of HVAC out from behind the walls and into the proverbial light. We have read the ASHRAE guidance materials and we don't fully understand them either, so we enlisted the help of two knowledgeable MEP engineers...

In this series of Advocacy Stories, we will examine the nuts and bolts of advocacy through the experiences of Directors, Trustees, and Consultants involved in the MBLC’s Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program. A basic rule of advocacy is to focus on your supporters and mobilize and energize them. However, this episode focuses on the experiences of librarians and trustees who faced significant opposition. Library employees must be very careful not to cross the line between pro...

In this episode, we convened a roundtable of architects from several of the firms who design buildings for libraries that partake in the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program. Each firm tackled a topic related to designing libraries amidst a pandemic, including circulation patterns, furniture design, small vs. large rooms, exterior spaces, flexibility vs, separation, safety and security, bathrooms, HVAC, and longterm impacts. We ask this esteemed and knowledgeable group to discuss...