The Wareham Free Library Foundation and the Library Board of Trustees have committed $70,000 and $10,000, respectively, to the library's budget for next year, which will keep the main branch open on July 1.

But the fix is a temporary one.

"We understand the plight of the town and we want to be supportive," said Kerry Mello, president of the Wareham Free Library Foundation. "But what we've done this year is just not sustainable. … What we need to do is pull together and figure out a way forward."

The Friends of the Wareham Free Library is also to raising funds with the hope of being able to donate $10,000 to the library's operating budget.

Town Meeting voters on Tuesday, June 18, approved a $52.4 million budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins on July 1. During the meeting, a representative of the library's Board of Trustees read a statement on the board's behalf explaining that the approximately $295,000 allocated to the library was not enough to keep the near 20,000-square-foot main branch on Marion Road in operation.

Instead, the Spinney Memorial Library in Onset would open for six days per week.

The budget was cut approximately $107,000 from the current year's number.

"We looked at what it costs to run the facility realistically," said Library Director Denise Medeiros, explaining how she arrived at the conclusion that the main branch would have to close without additional funding.

Among the concerns were the size of the building, the fact that sections of it are not easily closed, and how a reduced staff would be able to provide adequate services there.

Mello also elaborated.

"People are questioning, 'Why would that building have to close?' People do not understand, we live in a large town. Before this cut, we had already one of the lowest per-capita library contributions in the whole state of Massachusetts for a town our size," explained Mello. "You cannot provide the library services that our town really needs and deserves with a staff that's been so decimated. That's why we [the Foundation] felt we really needed to step up."

The trustees said $90,000 in funding was needed to be able to open the main branch. At a June 20 meeting, the Board of Trustees committed $10,000 to the budget from an account it oversees. The money is from a past lawsuit settlement and is earmarked specifically for emergencies at the library. The account will contain $8,000 after the transfer.

Even with the extra money, the main branch will still only open for three days per week, with the Spinney opening for three days as well, Medeiros said.

Currently, the Spinney is open three days per week, while the main branch is open five days.

In addition to losing two days of service at the main branch, the Wareham Free Library is losing 33.5 hours of part-time support staff weekly, as well as four library substitute workers, who provide programming and coverage for staff vacations.

The library's teen coordinator position, which was previously funded through a state grant, will no longer exist.

Programming will be cut across the board.

And both Medeiros and the nonprofit supporters are concerned about the library losing state accreditation, which allows the library to apply for state aid – such as the grant that provided the teen coordinator position – and for borrowers to use the SAILS program, which provides interlibrary loans and services.

Medeiros said that the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners, which accredits libraries throughout the Commonwealth, does not like to see towns cut library budgets without cutting all other departments the same amount. The library budget was cut approximately 25%.

Additionally, the town's library is already receiving a waiver from the library commissioners, as it did not previously meet accreditation criteria due to budget constraints.

“Next year, the Board of Library Commissioners is going to look very closely at if the town has increased the funding at the library,” explained Priscilla Porter of the Friends of the Wareham Free Library. “Unless the town shows that it's trying to bring the library budget back up, the chance of a waiver the second year is pretty slim to none.”

All parties worried about what the current budget will mean for library patrons, as well as any significant cut next year.

“People aren't just coming in and taking a book off the shelf and walking out the door,” said Medeiros. “People are coming in because they have questions and problems and need help,” she added, stressing that staff is needed to provide that help.

Mello echoed that sentiment.

“The Wareham library is one of the best used libraries in all of Southeastern Massachusetts. … We have more borrowers than any other library except Fall River and New Bedford,” said Mello, noting that approximately 500 people per week use the computers while visiting the library. “It would be a huge loss for the main building to be closed or for services to be any more diminished.”

Medeiros plans to conduct surveys and focus groups to determine what kind of library services that the town wants and what should be prioritized. That way, next year, she will have a better idea of how to best provide services with her limited budget, she said.

The nonprofits are continuing to raise money, but as all parties point out, big donations to the library next year will not be feasible.

For more information about supporting the library, visit www.warehamfreelibrary.org/friends.

New library hours begin July 1 and are as follows. Wareham Free Library, Marion Road: Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Spinney Memorial Library, Onset: Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.