Saugus Library regains certification

SAUGUS – After nearly four years the Saugus Public Library has won back its state certification.”We’re just so excited,” said Pam Gill, chairman of the Board of Library Trustees.Gill, along with Rep. Mark Falzone, D-Saugus, appeared before the State board of Library Commissioners to lobby for the re-certification of the library.The library lost its certification nearly four years ago after it was closed briefly due to budget cuts.In June the state delegation added a clause to the budget that instructed the Board of Library Commissioners to grant the library temporary certification as long as it met a few basic requirements. If the library missed that boat, it would have been another year and a half before it would be re-certified.Falzone said a vote by the commissioners Thursday cleared the way for the temporary status that also allows for the library to receive funding from the State Aid to Public Libraries Program.”The great news of this approval is a huge, positive step for Saugus,” Falzone said. “It’s great to get this burden lifted.”Falzone said the library will officially become re-certified next week, after demonstrating that it will be open for 59 hours per week as required by the commissioners. Gill said the hours will change as a result but for the better. The library will open at 9:30 a.m., stay open four evenings a week and later on Saturday, which Gill said should be easier for people to remember.Gill said the recertification also means those with a library card can partake of services such as inter-library loans and once again borrow from other libraries. Access to online databases will also be restored.”So you can’t rush out and borrow a book from another library tomorrow but you can next week,” Gill said. “Next week (the commission) will e-mail the other libraries to let them know we’re not the bad guys anymore.”The recertification also comes with a financial benefit. Falzone said with recertification the library would be eligible for state aid to libraries in the amount of $20,000-$25,000.”This has been a long time coming,” Falzone said. “Normally it would take a year and a half to do this.”Falzone said typically it takes over a year of steady funding from a town for a library to be re-certified, making it difficult for struggling libraries to meet the strict state standards, because they are forced to do it without state funding.Rob Maier, executive director of the Board of Library Commissioners, credited Falzone for being the driving force behind getting the library recertified. Falzone noted that Senator Thomas McGee (D-Lynn), Senator Sal DiDomenico, D-Everett, and Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein, D-Revere, also assisted in the coup.”This would not have been possible without the work of the entire Saugus delegation, the library’s Board of Trustees and our town Meeting members,” Falzone said. “And it’s just in time for school.”Gill said the library would hang out balloons and have coffee and cookies on Tuesday to celebrate the news.”It is temporary,” Gill noted. “In November they will look at it and if we’ve been open the 59 hours (per week) it shouldn’t be any problem ? all good things come to those that wait – and work hard.”