Massachusetts Library License Plates

Be among the first with a library license plate!

graphic of library license plate Celebrate libraries by proudly displaying the new MA library license plate and encouraging your staff members, friends, trustees, or members to join us!

The Central Massachusetts Regional Library System (CMRLS) announces it is now accepting advance applications for a new specialty license plate celebrating libraries in Massachusetts.

Proceeds will benefit public, academic, special and school libraries across the state that belong to a Regional Library System. Equitable shares of the proceeds will be made available to qualifying libraries through an open grant process. Funds will not be used to supplant library budgets.

If you'd like to be the owner of a low library license plate number, apply now!

CMRLS must collect at least 3,000 applications each with a $40 check made payable to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) before the RMV will begin production of the plate.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: In order to expedite production of the plate, you may temporarily DISREGARD $40 SPECIAL FEE REQUIREMENT LISTED ON THE APPLICATION. Simply send in your application and WE will contact YOU when we have reached our quota and need your check.

The initial cost of the plate is $40 ($28 goes to the Library Grant Fund; $12 to the RMV for manufacturing costs). There is an additional $20 swap fee when the actual plate is picked up from the RMV. Renewals are $81 every two years ($41 RMV registration fee and $40 for the specialty plate fee that continues to go to the Library Grant Fund).

The idea for the plate emerged during a ‘promote libraries’ brainstorming activity at a CMRLS Executive board workshop. After a joint meeting with RMV officials in April and consultations with other library organizations, CMRLS decided to launch the drive to gather the required prepaid applications to produce the specialty plate.

The plate design process was a collaborative effort. Representatives from library boards across Massachusetts as well as library patrons were invited to offer design suggestions. The Library License Plate Task Force subcommittee formed by CMRLS included representatives from: Friends of Libraries; Library Trustee Association; School Library Association; each of the six Regional Library Systems; MA Library Association; and the MA Board of Library Commissioners. Once the concept was agreed upon, local Illustrator David Desforges volunteered to turn the concept into reality.

An application can be downloaded here. For more information contact CMRLS Headquarters at 508-757-4110.

Central Massachusetts Regional Library System (CMRLS), the lead organization of this statewide endeavor, promotes and supports resource sharing, professional development, collaboration, and innovation among all types of libraries in Central Massachusetts. Its seventy-two communities include 244 academic, public, school and special libraries. It is funded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

You are welcome to distribute the press announcement that includes most of this information as is to your organization’s newsletter or to your local newspaper. Please don’t alter any of the content, as the RMV must approve any publicity we release.

Download and print bookmarks advertising library license plates here.

Questions? Contact Carolyn Noah at CMRLS (508-757-4110) or email: libraryplates@cmrls.org.

This page last updated on March 20, 2009

Massachusetts library license plates

Be among the first with a library license plate!

Download and print bookmarks advertising library license plates here.