Wareham Free Library Director Michael Carlozzi said he’s ready to open a new chapter at the library, which has been struggling since it lost state certification in 2014.

Carlozzi remembers when the library was one of the top institutions in the state and hopes to bring it back to that point.

“I've got a personal investment,” the Wareham native said. “I was at this library years ago and saw how great it could be.”

Carlozzi worked as a page at the library from 1999 to 2005. Hired in July as the new director, Carlozzi has spent the past few months promoting the library’s services, bringing in additional funds and adding programming. Carlozzi said it's his goal to improve educational programs and community outreach.

That will be difficult without certification, which means that the library does not receive any state aid. In past years, state aid accounted for over $20,000 in the library’s budget. The library also can't apply for state grants.

While patrons are unable to borrow from neighboring libraries, they may download e-books from the Wareham Free Library, as long as they have the program application.

That’s something not many people know, said Carlozzi.

He's also already started a program that will teach seniors how to use computers and apply for jobs online that starts on Friday, Dec. 2. Within a week, all 10 available seats were filled.

The interest is there, and Carlozzi said he's amazed by the amount of activity despite the library being decertified.

“The problem is we don't have money for staff. Staff costs every single year,” said Carlozzi. “You need a renewable financial commitment.”

Even Carlozzi's salary isn't completely paid for by the town.

He's currently making $63,000 annually: the town pays for 26 hours of his 40-hour work week and the rest is paid by the Wareham Free Library Foundation.

Since the library's decertification, two organizations stepped forward to keep the library’s doors open – the Wareham Free Library Foundation and the Friends of the Wareham Free Library. Carlozzi hopes to regain the library's certification.

“I'm pretty optimistic because Derek [Sullivan], the Town Administrator, expressed his willingness to work with us,” he said.

The worst part about the decertification of the library, Carlozzi said, is that it bars Wareham residents from requesting books from other libraries in the state.

“It's frustrating for a librarian to say 'We can't get that for you' or 'We can't help you with that problem,'” said Carlozzi. “Just yesterday someone wanted five books and we only had two of them.”

Patrons can’t borrow or place holds on books and materials from other libraries, except for Freetown, Swansea and Assonet. Those libraries agreed to work with the Wareham library.

The library is currently funded by 0.37 percent of the town's budget. Most libraries serving the population size that Wareham use 1 percent of the town's budget. If that percentage goes up, Carlozzi said, it'll make a huge difference.

The library gets $216,000 each year from the town, and Carlozzi estimates that even $400,000 would be enough for a decent library, but $600,000 – or one percent – would make it exceptional.