M.G.L. 6 § 39B Turns 40 and Gets a Glow Up!

This December marks the 40th anniversary of the enactment of St.1984 c. 412. Section 3 of this statute, codified as M.G.L. 6 § 39B, stipulates that every state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must submit copies of their publications to the State Library. Since its passage in 1984, M. G. L. ch. 6 section 39B has been vital to the State Library’s mission of preserving the legislative history of Massachusetts and ensuring access to the Commonwealth’s public documents.

Images courtesy of the State Library of Massachusetts,adapted from
“1984 Chap. 0412. An Act Providing For The Orderly Distribution Of State Publications.” 

Turning 40 isn’t the only major milestone for M.G.L. 6 § 39B. With the passage of chapter 206 of the 2024 Acts earlier this year, M.G.L. 6 § 39B has been updated! The updated text is provided below; it can also be found on the legislature's website, here.

The new legislation takes into account the fact that government documents are increasingly published digitally rather than in hard copy. The original legislation required that 8 hard copies of every published government document be sent to the State Library. It now requires only a single copy (if originally published in hardcopy) or shareable PDF for preservation.

Everyone (regardless of whether they work in government or not) is welcome to consult these documents. If you cannot make it to the State House, our recently upgraded online repository contains the digitized versions of many of these items. It is the State Library’s hope that the changes to M.G.L. 6 § 39B will make it easier for agencies to send us their published documents and that it will facilitate access for the public to our materials.

Thank you to the State Library staff and all those involved in getting this legislation passed!

Check out our digital repository to examine these documents, and if you would like to learn more about the Massachusetts State Documents Repository Program, please visit our website. And if you are in the State House, stop by the library's reading room to see our exhibit case celebrating M.G.L. 6 § 39B's milestone birthday and update!


Maryellen Larkin

Government Documents & Reference Librarian