All it needs is Gov. Deval Patrick's signature, but the town is optimistic that the bill to recertify the Wareham Free Library is all set.  The bill, S.2163, "An Act Related to the Certication of the Wareham Public Library," was enacted in both the House and Senate Thursday, Feb. 18, and Town Administrator Mark Andrews said, he is "confident that it will be signed" within the next ten days.

Kathy Gleason, president of the Friends of the Wareham Free Library, said that the special legislation filed by State Sen. Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) forgives the library for not meeting the 40-minimum hours required for certification last year.  Decertification would have prevented the library from receiving state aid, which Gleason estimated as contributing $28,000 to the 2008 budget, and from participating in the SAILS inter-library loan network.  The reduced hours were due to budget cuts.

Gleason thanked Andrews, Sen. Pacheco, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for working with the Friends to obtain certification.