PATCH FACTS

5 Things Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Edition

See what's closed and other things going on in Norton.

Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section. 1. Town Hall to close early Norton Town Hall will close at noon today. 2. Norton Public Library closed The library will be closed today in observance of Christmas Eve. 3. Christmas Pageant Bethany Congregational Church, 3 Rockhill St, Foxborough, will hold a Christmas Pageant 5 to 6 p.m. For more information call 508 543-5678. 4. Santa Tracker Where is Santa? Track Santa to see when he will be in Norton at http://www.noradsanta.org. 5. High near 37, low around 22 Today will be sunny, with a high near 37. Tonight there is a 30 …

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Library Gets Funds Towards Goal of Recertification

Norton approves $16,413 increase in funds in fall Town Meeting.

Norton Public Library has one more win under their belt in the journey for recertification, as Norton voters approved the library’s request for a $16,413.  “The $311,000 that we voted in spring town meeting was the minimum the town was required to contribute to the library in order for the library to apply for recertification,” explained Paul Helmreich of the Finance Committee. “That was requirement number one. Requirement number two is that the library must be open 40 hours a week from Labor Day until Memorial Day. And to do that, to stay open for 40 hours a week, they need an additional $16,413, which the Finance Committee is recommending.”  Helmreich also noted that because the library is decertified, the town loses about $18,000 a year…

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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

Library Trustees Betting on Town Meeting Support

Board using supplemental funds to try and regain state certification and town funding.

Norton’s public library board of trustees is gambling that town officials and Town Meeting will find them enough funding in the next year to enable them to regain state certification. And they are putting their own money up to do so. The board will use a portion of its own supplemental (and non-taxpayer funded) budget to expand the operating hours of the library to 40 hours per week starting just after Labor Day. They are doing so with the hope the October Town Meeting will be able to add about $18,000 to their budget to carry them through the rest of the year. The 40 hour threshold is one of the main requirements for certification by the state. That certification is necessary in order for the library to qualify for state funds and to …

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Library to Open 40 Hours a Week

Board of Directors working one step at a time towards recertification.

The Norton Public Library Board of Directors voted recently to open the library for an additional 10 hours a week to work towards recertification. "The Library Board of Directors fully understands the extreme financial constraints of the town and all of its departments, and, therefore, the Norton Public Library Board of Directors voted to open the library for an additional 10 hours a week for a total of 40 open hours per week after Labor Day, with funding from the library's supplemental account." new head librarian Lee Parker said in a press release. The board, staff and volunteers continue to work to regain certification and hope that more money can be appropriated to the Norton Public Library at the fall town meeting to enable 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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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Library Working Toward Recertification

Though the library is receiving more budget money this year, some measures still must be taken to regain certification.

I am writing this letter to clarify the budget for the town of Norton Public Library for FY12. The Norton town manager and Finance Committee have recommended a $311,000 budget for the library for FY12. While that figure will meet the minimum funding allowed by the state’s Board of Library Commissioners, the Norton library will still need to meet two other requirements in order to apply for recertification. The library must also be open a minimum of 40 hours per week from Memorial Day to Labor Day and spend 12% of its budget for materials.    While the budget recommended by the town manager and the Finance Committee is a $3,755 increase over the library’s budget this year, it is still short of the Norton Library Board of Directors requested…

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PATCH FACTS

5 Things You Need To Know Today: April 21

Your Patch Facts for the day.

Five Things You Should Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section. 1. Friends of Norton Public Library, 68 E. Main St., Norton, will hold a plant and bake sale 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 2. EPOCH Assisted Living of Norton, 190 Mansfield Ave., will host a Victorian Tea, led by Patricia Perry, history buff who puts on fun, lively and educational performances throughout New England. This event, held at 2:30 p.m., is free and open to the public. For more information or to reserve your seat, call 508-285-3355. 3. Join Jack Lash and Oak Knoll Staff at 947 Park St., Attleboro, as they take an early morning…

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Norton Public Library Joins in on the Party

Library celebrates 125th anniversary.

The same year that Norton commemorates its 300th birthday, Norton Public Library will be celebrating its 125th birthday. In addition to regular programs on Thursday, April 7, the library will celebrate this special day with a birthday cake, cookies, balloons, a puppet show and more 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. “The library is still being used as the hub of the community,” Jackson said. And as the world of technology changes, the library has evolved too, despite it being decertified two years ago. Norton Public Library is now on Facebook, posting videos from assistant head librarian Lee Parker’s iPad. And Parker hopes to bring even more to the library in years to come. “I can’t believe it has been 125 years. It’s great that it coincides with the town’…

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