Minimum Standards: Municipal Appropriation Requirement 

Massachusetts General Law states that for a municipality to be eligible for State Aid to Public Libraries monies, it must appropriate for public library service at least the average of the municipal public library appropriations (excluding capital) for the prior three fiscal years, increased by two and one-half percent. This is known as the Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR).

A municipality must meet or receive one of the ten waivers of the MAR, and its library must have met the minimum standards of public library service, in order for the municipality to be certified by the Board of Library Commissioners to receive State Aid to Public Libraries.

The first Municipal Appropriation Requirement for public library funding in Massachusetts was established in 1890 by the Act to Promote the Establishment and Efficiency of Public Libraries. Today's Municipal Appropriation Requirement was established in 1987 by An Act to Improve Public Libraries. The Act was codified as Massachusetts General Law Chapter 78, sections 19A and 19B.

Citations: MGL c.78, s.19A & 19B;

MBLC Policy (MAR Waiver) approved January 9, 1997