Norton Public Library Recertified

Patrons now able to participate in SAILS network.

Norton Public Library has officially been recertified by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. In order to be recertified, the library needed to be open 40-hours a week and spend money on supplies and programming. Norton was among many libraries that met the requirements for the FY2013 State Aid to Public Libraries program, and 167 were collectively awarded more than $1.5 million in state aid funds by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners at its Dec. 6, 2012 Board Meeting. Norton Public Library last applied to the program in fiscal year 2009, but was denied a Municipal Appropriaion Requirement waiver due to a 33 percent cut. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or …

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Norton Police Department Awarded Certification Status

Department the 58th in Massachusetts to receive certification from Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.

On Oct. 18, Norton Police Department was the 58th in the state to receive state certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.  Certification is an evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession by the profession. These selected standards reflect critical areas of police management, operation and technical support activities. They cover areas such as policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit, prisoner transportation and holding facilities. The program not only sets standards for the law enforcement profession, but also for the delivery of …

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Library Seeks Recertification

Article presented for the Oct. 12 Town Meeting

Norton has been without a state certified library since 2009, after a controversial 2008 Town Meeting vote imposed a 33 percent cut on its budget. The state withdrew the Norton Public Library's certified status the following year, a depressing sign of the fiscal times, and a sharp blow to a proud community. Thursday, the chairman of the library's board of director, Brian Stalters, and head librarian Lee Parker appealed to the three present members of the five-member board of selectmen to support the library's bid to reinstate a budget adequate to the facility's needs by presenting an article at the Oct. 12 Town Meeting asking for the extra funds. A positive vote would put the library on track to regain its certification, along with the …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

How Important Is Town Library To Norton?

Despite effects to address recertification, library still has rough road to gain funding.

Norton’s public library is no longer certified by the state. Patrons can no longer borrow materials on loan from most other libraries, the building is only open about 31 hours per week and the librarian says staffing has been cut almost in half. The question is – other than those dedicated and loyal friends of the library – does anyone in town really care? Frankly, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of concern throughout most of the town about the library’s dire plight. This is not to say the library has somehow become less popular, or plays any less important a role in the community. But even with the cut in hours and loss of staff, there has been no outrage expressed throughout town. To be sure, many individuals have expressed their …

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