Preservation in Massachusetts Libraries: Funding Sources for Preservation and Digitization

MBLC suspended its IMLS LSTA-funded grants program in April 2025. Please see MBLC's April 3, 2025 press release for more information regarding the agency's recent funding-related actions.

Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) provides guidance and support to Massachusetts institutions, organizations, and repositories that manage historical records. MA SHRAB helps share information among historical records repositories, provides training on archival topics, and administers programs to help preserve and provide access to archival materials. It serves as the facilitator of selected National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) grants and services in the Commonwealth. MBLC's Preservation Specialist serves as the agency's representative to SHRAB.

Programs currently available in support of preservation efforts at Massachusetts libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other cultural heritage organizations include:

• Massachusetts Roving Archivist Program
  Funded through a grant from the NHPRC, the Roving Archivist service is free to cultural heritage institutions statewide, including historical societies, museums, town clerks, historical commissions, special libraries, schools, community archives, and public libraries with local history collections. The Roving Archivist conducts a site visit, creates a Strategic Assessment and Program Review, and then develops a report of recommendations and resources customized to the needs of the institution. Additional information, including the application process and key program dates, is available on the SHRAB website.
   
• Veterans' Heritage Grants 
  A program open to Massachusetts municipalities and non-profit organizations, such as libraries, historical societies and commissions, museums, schools, and universities, Veterans Heritage Grants provide matching funds of up to fifty percent (50%) of a project's total cost (applicants could apply for up to $15,000 per project in the most recent funding cycle) when relevant to veterans and their military encounters, and may include: Preservation or digitization of historic documents and photographs, improving access to archival collection, oral history projects, monument sand memorials restoration or renovation, and markers for historically significant sites. Additional information, including the application process and key program dates, is available on the SHRAB website.

Mass Humanities supports public humanities programs hosted by libraries, museums, historic sites community centers, and education providers across the Commonwealth through their signature grants initiative. One of the organization's current funding initiatives is its "Expand Massachusetts Stories" grant program, designed to "spotlight narratives from individuals, cultures, and communities that have been historically excluded from public history." This program supports collecting and curating oral histories and developing educational programs to share community narratives. Additional information, including detailed descriptions of grant tracks and requirements, the application process, and key program dates, is available on the Mass Humanities website.