Next year's proposed budget for the Wareham Free Library would likely be able to fund one additional hour per day at the Library and two, four-hour days at the Spinney branch in Onset, according to Library Director Denise Medeiros.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan's proposed draft budget contains just under $200,000 in town funding for the library, which is more than the town has given the library in years.

While the town gave the library $125,000 in this year's budget, the true operating costs of the library is closer to $200,000. The library made up the difference this year with state aid and private funds that won't be available next year.

Currently, the town provides the library $125,000, which according to Medeiros only covers all four staff salaries and about $17,000 worth of the library's electricity bill.

"That's it from the town. They're paying for nothing else," she said.

The proposed town funding for next year covers everything. The Library also has $30,000 in private funds from the Friends of the Wareham Library that can only be used for the Spinney branch.

At last Thursday's Library Board of Trustees meeting Medeiros said it was cost effective to run Spinney in addition to the main branch at 54 Marion Road.

"Spinney was the only reason we were certified for the last couple of years," she said, explaining that having Spinney open helped meet the open hours requirement the state has for maintaining certification.

The Library was decertified last November, meaning that residents can't borrow books or materials from other libraries and the library will not receive any state aid, which accounts for about $20,000 annually. To regain certification, the library would need: An increased budget that is in line with the previous three year's average, to be open at least 40 hours a week and spend at least 15 percent of its budget on books.

While there isn't any chance Wareham will be able to meet these requirements and apply for state certification next year, increased funding from the town would appear to be a step in the right direction.