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MBLC Celebrates 125 Years

1977

"No silence, please! Speak up for libraries." poster

1977 library advocacy poster1


On September 29, 1977, Governor Michael Dukakis signed into a law a bill separating the Board of Library Commissioners (BLC) and its staff, the Bureau of Library Extension (BLE), from the Department of Education, thereby establishing an independent state library agency.2

In November of the same year, the BLC raised the certification fee for librarians from $3.00 to $6.00 and the cost of replacement certificates for $1.00 to $2.00.2
TODAY: The MBLC charges a $50.00 fee for librarian certification.

What else happened in 1977?

  • Star Wars hit theaters and went on to be the second highest-grossing film of all time.3
  • Saturday Night Fever sparked the disco inferno and the popularity of movie soundtracks.3
  • Elvis Presley died at Graceland, his Memphis, Tennessee home. He was 42.3

References:
1. Mediawrite (MBLC newsletter), December 1977.
2. MBLC newsletters, 1977.
3. www.infoplease.com [link].