MA PL Decertified, Another on the Way

-- Library Journal, 11/08/2006

Two small Massachusetts public libraries have cut their services to the point that they are violating the state's Board of Library Commissioners policy, and one has already lost state certification. The board told the Turner Free Library, Randolph, that after receiving waivers for three straight years, as of January 2007, the library will be decertified. It won't be able to receive state aid for at least two years because it maintains too few hours open for the size of its community. The library should be open 63 hours a week, according to a report in the Patriot Ledger. As a result of an 8.5 percent budget cut, Turner is only open 40 hours per week. Last year, the library received $20,000 in state aid; its budget now is $503,367. Two part-time employees were laid off, and the remaining four part-timers had their hours cut. The library lost a chance for an additional $141,800 when a property tax increase was rejected by voters in June. But that still wouldn't have allowed the library to meet the state requirement.

The Medway Public Library needs another $138,000—or a waiver—to avoid being decertified when state officials vote in January. Town meeting attendees, following selectmen's advice, didn't make that happen. They even rejected an additional $8000, according to the Milford Daily News, which would have kept the library open the state-required 32 hours a week through the calendar year. Without the money, it soon will drop to 20 hours. A selectman recommended asking the state board for a waiver, as the town has been operating at a deficit and is following state recommendations for a fiscal recovery.