About the Massachusetts Library Staff Association

About MLSA

The Massachusetts Library Staff Association represents more than 500 public librarians in 31 municipalities across the state of Massachusetts. Our purpose is to bring together library employees in the spirit of mutual assistance and cooperation to obtain the rights to which all working people are entitled. We aim to raise the standards within the profession by securing working conditions essential to being able to provide the best professional service to all those who use our libraries. MLSA affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers in 2019.

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Meet the Executive Board

The Executive Board of the MLSA is comprised of four elected positions as well as the Chapter Chair (or equivalent position) of all Member Libraries. 

Pat Kelley, President 

Photo & bio to come.

Allie Hahn, Vice-President

Allie (she/her) has been working in libraries since she was 14 (and volunteering since she was 12). She obtained her MIS from Florida State University in 2018. Currently, she is the Children's Librarian at the Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library. She also serves as the President of the Boston Librarians Union. Allie was elected as MLSA Vice-President in November 2025. Some of her favorite books include The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, and Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. You can reach Allie at alliehahn4928@gmail.com. 

Lori Solatto, Secretary

Lori has been a MLSA member since 2001 and the appointed Secretary in October 2004 and subsequently elected in 2005. She has worked at the Middleborough Public Library for almost 25 years and for the last 10 years has been the Head of Technical Services. Prior to that she was an Assistant Manuscripts Curator at the RI Historical Society. Remarkably Bright Creatures, The Berry Pickers, and The Women are among some of her favorite books.

Matt Amory, Treasurer

Matt  was elected Treasurer of the Massachusetts Library Staff Association in 2013 while working as a part-time Technology Librarian at the Wayland Free Public Library. Though he now works full time in the Canton Public Library and is a member of AFSCME Local 362, he has continued in his role as MLSA Treasurer.

Member Libraries

• Abington Public Library

• Attleboro Public Library

• Boston Public Library

• Braintree Thayer Public Library 

• Bridgewater Public Library

• Cambridge Public Library

• Everett Public Libraries

• Foxborough Boyden Library

• Franklin Pubic Library

• Grafton Public Library

• Holbrook Public Library

• Hull Public Library

• Lexington Cary Library

• Lynnfield Public Library

• Medford Public Library 

• Middleborough Public Library 

• Mildford Town Library

• North Reading Flint Memorial Library

• Pepperell Lawrence Library

• Quincy Thomas Crane Public Library

• Salem Public Library

• Sandwich Public Library

• Seekonk Public Library

• Stoneham Public Library

• Stoughton Public Library

• Wakefield Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

• Waltham Public Library

• Wayland Free Public Library

• Weston Public Library

• Weymouth Public Libraries

• West Springfield Public Library

• Winthrop Public Library & Museum 

• Woburn Public Library

AFT Public Employees

AFT Public Employees is the division of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) that represents federal, state and local government employees.

Though the AFT was once exclusively a union of teachers, today its membership is composed of more than 1.2 million public service professionals throughout the country who are united by a common cause: to provide services that strengthen, secure and protect our communities.

Together, we are one union committed to the effective representation of public service professionals, and the promotion of the principles and public services that have grown our great democracy.

Organizing and mobilizing are essential among public sector professionals because decisions about our jobs – funding levels, program priorities, wages and benefits – are determined by policymakers in politically-charged environments. Through strong legislative and political action capacity at every level of the union based on member involvement, we secure better contracts and legislation that recognize the value of public services and the contributions made every day by government employees.

AFT Mission Statement

The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.