About Boston Librarians Union

First founded as a professional association in the 1930’s, the Boston Public Library Professional Staff Association became a recognized union in 1969. In 2020, we affiliated with the Massachusetts Library Staff Association (MLSA) Local 4928 of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Following a member vote in 2026, the Professional Staff Association officially became the Boston Librarians Union. BLU currently represents approximately 200 staff members at the Boston Public Library across almost every location and department.

BLU’s mission is to maintain and improve the working conditions of its members. We foster professional library service at the Boston Public Library by securing conditions essential to the performance of that service. We aim to empower our members by advancing their material working condititions and by supporting the ongoing education and empowerment of our members through professional development and training.

We advocate for equal access to library services for all persons regardless of race, color, creed, ancestry, class, political believe, national origin, immigration status, physical or mental ability, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and other marginalized identities. We are committed to fighting racism everywehre we find it and the empowerment of the community in all of our words and actions.

Click here to read or download our Constitution.

Photos of BLU members, Cambridge Public Library Staff Association, and other MLSA members at the 2025 Labor Day Rally.

Executive Board Officers

  • Allie Hahn

    PRESIDENT

    Allie (she/her) has served as President of BLU since November 2024. She has been with Boston Public Library since August 2018 and is the Children’s Librarian at the Brighton Branch Library. She inherited her passion for union work from her mother, a proud member of the Fall River Educators Association. As President, she hopes to continue building solidarity inside and outside of BLU and make the Library and City more equitable for all.

  • Kathleen Monahan

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Kathleen (she/her) is the Special Collections Public Services Supervisor at the Central Library. She has been with BPL since January 2022. Kathleen is passionate about union work because of the ability to build solidarity and advocate for changes based on the what members need. Having worked non-union jobs before, Kathleen appreciates the material differences a union can make.

  • Bryce Kieren Healy

    CHIEF STEWARD

    Bryce (he/him) is a Cataloger & Classifier Librarian in the Technical Services Department at the Central Branch. He has been with BPL since April 2014 and has served on the BLU Executive Board in different capacities for over a decade. Bryce sees unions as a way for workers to push back against exploitation and as a way to have a say in how the workplace is governed.

  • Madeleine Wright

    SECRETARY

    Madeleine (she/her) is an Early Literacy Children’s Librarian. She has been with BPL since March 2023. She has previously served on the Board as an interim Member Representative for the Central Library. Madeleine is passionate about union work because she thinks we all have a responsibility to help create a better world. She believes that everyone deserves dignity and respect at work and we have to work for it together.

  • Amy Layton

    VICE-STEWARD

    Amy (she/her) is the Generalist Librarian at the Parker Hill Branch Library. She has been with BPL since December 2021. Amy has previously served on the Executive Board as a Member Representative for the branches. The daughter of a unionized kindergarten teacher, she saw how her mom’s union's efforts paid off. She’s excited to be present for her fellow co-workers in the same way.

Member Representatives

Branch Representatives

Kathleen Clifford

Kathleen (she/they) is the Branch Librarian at the South Boston Branch. She has been with BPL since June 2014. When her mom was let go, Kathleen saw firsthand how the union could fight back and get her mom’s job back! They’ve seen how working together for better conditions can be transformative.

Maria Gonzalez

Maria (she/they) is the Generalist Librarian at the Connolly Branch Library. She’s passionate about union work because they believe libraries and other public institutions are strongest when workers are respected, protected, and given a real voice.

Eleanor Olson

Eleanor (she/her) is the Generalist Librarian at the Faneuil Branch Library. She has been with BPL since February 2023. This is Eleanor’s first union position and she appreciates the work past union members have done and wanted to contribute herself.

Matt Sweeney

Matt (he/him) is a Generalist Librarian at the Brighton Branch Library. He has been with BPL since April 2024. Matt has visited many branches in his previous role as a Floater Librarian and worked with staff across the system which felt like a natural synergy with the Branch Rep role.

Central Representatives

Michael Brown

Michael (he/they) is a Community Learning Reference and Workforce Development librarian. He has been with BPL since May 2023. Michael chairs the Membership Committee and BIPOC Workers Caucus for BLU. Coming from the south where there are no unions and having to struggle to be heard left a mark on them. They want to continue to fight the good fight in a way that helps others who are like them be seen.

Maty Cropley

Maty (any/they) is the Teen Outreach Librarian. They have been with BPL since February 2018. They feel its important to participate in the workplace deliberately, both on a professional level as a librarian, and as a union worker. More specifically, Maty believes in organizing and advocating alongside colleagues for a better workplace that is driven by our shared imperatives as workers.

Logan Hughes

Logan (he/him) is the Programs & Services Evaluation Specialist. He has been with BPL since April 2025. Logan has been a public servant for over a decade, but this is the first time he’s been part of a union. He’s inspired by the way union workers show up for each other, and wants to be part of the fight for a better library.

Committees

BLU has a mix of elected, appointed, and volunteer committees. Volunteer committees accept new members on a rolling basis. Elections for vacant positions on our Elected Committees takes place in April of each year. Check out our calendar to see when each committee will be meeting next!

Communications Committee (Volunteer)

The Communications Committee creates, maintains, and distributes our internal and external newsletters as well as creating content for and managing our social media presence.

Chair: Jordan Draves, comms.librariansunion@gmail.com

Committee members:
Kirsten DeCortin, Meia Geddes, Magda Morris, Matt Sweeney

Continuing Education Committee (Appointed)

The Continuing Education Committee oversees the BLU’s Continuing Education Fund. They evaluate applications from members to use funds to cover classes, workshops and other types of professional development. Members interested in being appointed to this committee should reach out to their Member Representative. To learn more or apply for funding through the Continuing Education Fund, click here.

Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Grab & Nikki Kline

Extended Sick Leave Fund Committee (Elected)

Members on the ESLFC evaluate requests from members seeking to use the sick bank. Members are elected to serve two-year terms on this committee. Requests for more information or to request use of the sick bank should be sent to bostonlibrariansunion@gmail.com

Chair: Veronica Koven-Matasy

Committee members:
Julia Blake, Sujei Lugo, Caroline Richardson, Elena Rios, Madeleine Wright

Elections Committee (Elected)

Members of this committee oversee the BLU election process including creating and distributing nomination materials, recruiting candidates, and creating and sharing the ballot members will use to cast their vote.

Chair: Kelly Webster, elections.librariansunion@gmail.com

Committee members:
Puck Malamud, Magda Morris

Joint Health & Safety Committee (Appointed)

Members appointed to this committee represent the BLU at monthly meetings with representatives from AFSCME 1526 and Library Management to discuss health and safety issues impacting employees across the system.

Committee members:
Julia Blake, Liz Blake, Amy Layton, Crystal Rodgers

Membership Committee (Volunteer)

Membership Committee members are involved in greeting new members and supporting the board in ongoing outreach to membership. They also meet to plan social gatherings to build member solidarity and boost morale.

Chair: Michael Brown