Canton's Representative Galvin Announces “Library for the Commonwealth”

Representative (D-Canton) joined his colleagues in announcing a new program to expand library resources across the state.  As a member of the legislature’s Library Caucus, Representative Galvin worked to establish the Library for the Commonwealth, supported by funds included in the fiscal year 2012 state budget.

 “The Boston Public library is a tremendous resource and it is wonderful that these materials will now be available to all residents, even those far beyond Boston city limits, via the internet,” commented Representative Galvin. 

The Boston Public Library will develop and maintain the Library for the Commonwealth, which is a statewide digital library available to all Massachusetts residents. Residents will be able to access a spectrum of resources, ranging from local town records to research collections of academic institutions, historical societies, and archives across the state. This program is a partnership with Digital Commonwealth, an existing organization of libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions.

In addition to the expansion and oversight of this powerful statewide digital library, this program entitles all Massachusetts residents to:

• Borrow materials utilizing the statewide inter-library loan program
• A Boston Public Library card for unrestricted borrowing privileges of all circulating items
• Instant access to online services with a BPL e-Card including a broad selection of electronic databases, e-books, downloadable audio books and music, and a wealth of digital images and books
• Reference and research services—in person, online, telephone, and written inquiries
• Access to collections of research books and journals in a range of subjects
• Digital lending through the scan-on-demand program including expansion of existing partnership with Perkins School for the Blind to serve visually-impaired users

-Press release submitted by Rep. Galvin's office.