NPL’s FY26 Budget

Impacts to library services and the library’s FY26 Budget.

  • Override denied, expected impacts include:

    • Loss of Sunday Hours.

    • Inability to fully maintain the new building at the current standard.

    • Reduction in programming and services. 

    • Reduced funding in the materials line. The 28% reduction will impact access to digital resources such as Hoopla, Overdrive/Libby, Niche Academy, and Mango Languages as well as reduce the purchasing of physical materials such as books, audiobooks, and library of things.

    • Non-compliance/Inability to meet the Municipal Appropriation Requirement, or MAR, which is a requirement set by the MBLC to maintain certification in the State Aid to Public Libraries Program which makes Norwell eligible to receive State Aid and for the library to participate in the reciprocal borrowing program which gives residents access to millions of items across the state. The FY26 MAR is $884,533. Since the override did not pass, the library will be $57,110 below the MAR. The library will apply for a waiver of the MAR as long as the Town can provide proof of fiscal hardship and that the library’s budget was not disproportionately reduced relative to changes in other town departments and the overall municipal budget. The Town of Norwell must establish a plan to get the library’s budget back to the required funding level and are limited to 5 consecutive fiscal years as a waiver applicant. After 5 consecutive years as a waiver applicant the library would then face potential decertification. 

    • Potential impacts to the library and to the community if NPL became a decertified library include: 

      • The noncertified municipality and its library will not receive any State Aid to Public Libraries monies (M.G.L. c.78, s.19A).

      • Libraries in certified municipalities are not required to lend library materials to the library in the noncertified municipality (605 CMR 4.01 (6a)).

      • Libraries in certified municipalities are not required to extend reciprocal library services, beyond in-library use of their materials, to residents of the noncertified municipality (605 CMR 4.01 (6b)).

      • The library will not be eligible to apply for grants under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) program.

Resources and Materials regarding Norwell Public Library’s FY26 Budget Request and the override.