After four years of hard work and tireless fundraising efforts, the Wareham Free Library rejoined the state’s network as a certified member on Thursday, Nov. 1.

“We’re absolutely thrilled,” said Acting Library Director Kathy Murphy. “It’s a very big deal for us.”

The Wareham Free Library lost its state certification back in 2014 when voters defeated a Proposition 2 1/2 override which would have provided money for several town agencies by raising property taxes if approved.

The library’s budget was slashed from $295,637 to $125,000 because of the vote, forcing staff to reduce hours and spending on new materials. The cuts also meant that the library was unable to afford a salary for an accredited director with a master’s degree in library science.

Without its certification, the Wareham Free Library was excluded from federal grant opportunities and access to the state’s library network. This meant that library card holders in Wareham were unable to borrow books or access resources from other libraries in neighboring towns.

“We were truly an island,” Murphy said.

Nonprofit organizations such as the Wareham Library Foundation and the Friends of the Wareham Free Library stepped up to support the department during this time with fundraising efforts that were directed towards staff salaries, outreach programs and materials. 

The two groups will continue to support the library following its recertification with federal grants bolstering their efforts.

According to Murphy, the Wareham Free Library is eligible for up to $16,000 in federal grants as a part of the state’s network for fiscal year 2019. She added that these funds could be distributed as early as this month. 

“Our patrons will also be able to start borrowing from other libraries,” Murphy said. “Our librarians are already calling around to put books on hold.”

The next step for the Wareham Free Library will be to hire an accredited director. Former Library Director Michael Carlozzi bid farewell to Wareham in August when he accepted a job at the East Providence Library in Rhode Island. 

“Michael was the driving force behind getting our certification back,” Murphy said. “It’s an ongoing process, but we’re extremely grateful.”