Minuteman Library Network

Minuteman Library Network is a library consortium serving 43 cities and towns in Metrowest Massachusetts, including Arlington, Massachusetts, Bedford, Massachusetts, Belmont, Massachusetts, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The network is a member of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and works closely with the Boston Public Library and the Massachusetts Library System. The Minuteman Library Network is also affiliated with the American Library Association and the New England Library Association. The network's services are used by residents of Acton, Massachusetts, Boxborough, Massachusetts, and Concord, Massachusetts, among other towns.

Introduction

The Minuteman Library Network provides a wide range of services to its member libraries, including interlibrary loan services, cataloging and classification support, and technology assistance. The network is governed by a board of directors composed of representatives from each member library, including the Arlington Public Library, the Bedford Free Public Library, and the Belmont Public Library. The Minuteman Library Network is also a member of the OCLC cooperative, which provides access to a global network of libraries, including the Library of Congress and the British Library. The network's members also participate in the Massachusetts Library Association and the New England Archivists.

History

The Minuteman Library Network was established in 1984, with the goal of providing shared services and resources to libraries in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts. The network's early members included the Acton Memorial Library, the Boxborough Library, and the Concord Free Public Library. Over the years, the network has grown to include 43 member libraries, serving a population of over 600,000 people, including residents of Carlisle, Massachusetts, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and Dedham, Massachusetts. The network has also established partnerships with other library consortia, including the NOBLE network and the MLN network, as well as with institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Services

The Minuteman Library Network provides a range of services to its member libraries, including circulation services, reference services, and programming support. The network also offers database access, including EBSCO and ProQuest, as well as e-book lending services through OverDrive. The network's members also participate in the Summer Reading Program, which is sponsored by the Massachusetts Library System and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The network's services are used by students at Framingham State University and Bentley University, among other institutions.

Membership

The Minuteman Library Network has 43 member libraries, including the Arlington Public Library, the Bedford Free Public Library, and the Belmont Public Library. The network's members also include the Acton Memorial Library, the Boxborough Library, and the Concord Free Public Library. The network's membership includes libraries from Ashland, Massachusetts, Dover, Massachusetts, and Holliston, Massachusetts, among other towns. The network's members are also affiliated with the American Library Association and the New England Library Association, and participate in events such as the Massachusetts Library Association conference and the New England Library Association conference.

Technology

The Minuteman Library Network uses a range of technology systems to support its services, including the Sierra integrated library system and the Symphony integrated library system. The network also uses OCLC's WorldCat database to provide access to a global network of libraries, including the Library of Congress and the British Library. The network's members also participate in the Massachusetts Library System's e-book lending program, which is powered by OverDrive. The network's technology systems are supported by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and are used by libraries such as the Boston Public Library and the Cambridge Public Library. The network's technology is also integrated with systems used by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Category:Library consortia in the United States