Central Massachusetts Regional Library System

CONTACT:

8 Flagg Road
Shrewsbury, MA 01606
508-757-4110 x305
www.cmrls.org

Carolyn Noah, Administrator

DESCRIPTION:

Think of the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System as “library central.” Founded in 1963 as part of Worcester’s city government serving only public libraries, it became a charitable corporation in 1997 to broaden its services—it now works with 257 libraries of all kinds in central Massachusetts, serving over 860,000 library users and funded primarily by state contract. Its mission is “to create synergy among libraries to enrich the quality of life in Central Massachusetts.” So in addition to coordinating interlibrary loans, it leverages the buying power of 185 libraries by collective purchasing, for savings of 40% on materials; last year it motivated 17,600 children and their families to participate in a summer reading program; it offers continuing education workshops for librarians; as the Internet transforms information services, CMRLS works to ensure that libraries can adapt and library users accede to the new tools, delivering published articles freely via the Internet, and providing access to electronic databases and reference services not readily or broadly open to the public. It wishes now to deliver non-print media—movies, music, books on tape—electronically, but government cannot fund this; the CMRLS budget was cut by 24% during the 2001 belt-tightening. Philanthropy can help—would you?

(2004: CULTURE: Education: Informal: General)