(1995-2020)
Welcome!!
ABOUT the FRIENDS
The Friends of the East Longmeadow Public Library, Inc. is an all volunteer group of individuals dedicated to fostering a love of libraries, books, and reading in the East Longmeadow Community. It is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization and membership dues, monetary donations, donated used books, etc. are tax deductible.
Although the Town of East Longmeadow and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts provide money to purchase most reading materials and technology, many of the programs you have come to love and expect are paid for by the Friends and local contributions. When you join our organization or make a one time gift, you make vital programs possible.
​
Thank you for your consideration.
To make a Donation, click here:
( Watch for your PayPal Receipt in your email inbox)
Thank you!
To join or renew memberships, click here:
We accept Debit & Credit Cards
VINICK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS
Jacob Miller, Susannah Cooper and Jon Van Iderstine
Jacob Miller, Susannah Cooper and Jon VanIderstine and their proud parents joined the members of the Friends on Tuesday, May 6th in the East Longmeadow Public Library's Community Room. The Friends secretary, Toni Raczkowski, presented each high school student with their scholarship certificates.
Jacob informed the members that he has been accepted at Northeastern University and is seeking an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Susannah is enrolled at Bridgewater State University and will attain a bachelor's degree in Aviation. Jon will be studying at Western New England University's Computer Engineering program. Each institution of higher learning will receive $1,000 to apply towards the respective recipient's tuition or fees.
​
Congratulations and best wishes for their continued academic achievements!
NO FEDERAL FUNDS!
Libraries across Massachusetts will be discontinuing access to certain academic databases efective June 1, 2025.
​
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) made the announcement on May 20th after stating that the discontinuance is a result of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) being eliminated via a March 14th executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
​
IMLS has been "the single largest source of critical funding for libraries," and it was supposed to allocate $3.6 million, with the help of state programs, to support MBLC for fiscal year 2025.
​
However, following the March 14th executive order, IMLS staff were placed on administrative leave, and the agency had been eliminated from the president's 2026 fiscal year budget, the commissioners wrote.
​
MBLC Director, Maureen Amyot, addressed the impact of federal uncertainty caused by the executive order, stating that in Massachusetts, over 1,600 school, public, academic and special libraries from across the state benefit from federal IMLS funding.
​
"The federal impact cannot be overstated. Millions of people rely on federally funded library services," Amyot said. "Developing a plan for services in an environment of almost daily federal change has been challenging, but our goal has remained constant: to maintain services that are integral to the functioning of our system and heavily relied on by the people of the commonwealth"
​
The purpose of these databases is to offer information on subjects including science, history, health, biographies and more.
​
In 2024, there were more than 9 million full-text downloads from research databases, an increase of 12% from 2023, according to MBLC, adding that 60% of the database usage comes from schools.
​
Some of these statewide database offering will be "significantly" reduced starting July 1st.
​
However, the MBLC and Massachusetts Library System (MLS), which jointly fund databases, will continue to maintain its most heavily used resources.
​
​Please contact our representatives, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward Markey, and Representative Richard Neal, and tell them that it is critical that Congress include funding for the IMLS.
Stay in the KNOW!
Read what the Friends and library staff have done recently and are planning to do this summer! It's all here in your May newsletter!
May 2025