LSTA Direct Grants to Libraries

Massachusetts uses LSTA funding to provide libraries with direct grants to meet the needs of their community. There was one LSTA direct grant awarded in the Seventh Congressional District in 2022 totaling $8,305.

Below are examples of direct grant funded projects in the Seventh Congressional District:

  • Archives Arrangement and Description – Howe Library, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston $8,305

    The Howe Library of Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE) has recently obtained a collection of diaries from the family of Dr. David Cogan (1908-1993), a world-renowned ophthalmologist, educator, and pathologist. This project allows the library to hire an Archivist to survey, arrange, and describe the collection as well as have the diaries digitized and placed within Harvard Library's CURIOSity platform. Improving access allows the entire MEE community, outside researchers, and the public to experience and appreciate one of the library’s most important archival collections.

ARPA Funding

Grants were given to communities that were hardest hit by COVID in the state to be used to improve access for residents at the library. Four grants totaling $200,000 were given to libraries in the Seventh Congressional District.

  • Boston Public Library will use funds to outfit several neighborhood branch locations with technology and related hardware to enable high-quality remote and hybrid programming
  • Chelsea Public Library will use funds to create a teen space in the library as well as provide targeted staffing, services, and programming for this demographic.
  • Parlin Memorial Library, Everett will use funds to provide career assistance and mental health services to the public and to create a makerspace in the library.
  • Turner Free Library, Randolph will use funds to purchase a wheelchair accessible meeting room pod and outdoor holds pick up lockers.