NORTON - The Norton Public Library's directors will again seek $134,000 in rainy day funds next month to restore most of their building's services - a request that voters rejected in May.

Library directors President Herbert Ellison said he's pessimistic about the Oct. 6 annual fall town meeting request.

"I'm pretty certain that the finance committee will oppose it. And its likelihood of passing is pretty slim. But we do need to make the effort," Ellison said.

Still, he added, "Most people already know what the effects are and are pretty unhappy, so we may already have the support."

A 40 percent budget cut at the May 12 annual town meeting prompted the library on July 1 to lay off six employees, including one full timer, and cut the typical summer schedule by 14 hours. Supporters fought the budget cut at town meeting. However, voters rejected a request to give the library $134,000 from the town's rainy day fund, known as a stabilization account.

The $134,000 would reduce the library's budget cut to 5 percent, positioning the directors for a state certification requirement waiver from the state board of library commissioners.

Losing state certification would jeopardize the library's inter-library loan privileges and $25,000 to $30,000 in state aid, Ellison said.

Library officials will apply for a waiver next month.

Library officials tried to get the $134,000 in a state budget amendment this summer, but legislators denied it, Ellison said.

The $134,000 would "just about" restore the library's full schedule and make the facility "a little bit more competitive for a state grant," Ellison said.

Ellison said he expects the state library board would look favorably on a funding waiver request from Norton in this case, because the library budget cut would be comparable to other Norton departments.

If the Oct. 6 town meeting proposal fails, library supporters must raise funds for utilities and other bills the budget doesn't cover, he said.

Library officials urged residents this summer to donate a percentage of their federal rebate check to the library.

"Gifts came in, some of them quite touching," Ellison said. The proceeds from a recycling day that the Friends of the Norton Public Library hosted on Aug. 9 supported equipment, materials and programs not covered by the budget.

Meanwhile, the library's new budget-driven reduced schedule will be tweaked for the fall and winter.

The library will be open for 26 hours - the same as this summer - starting Oct. 1, Head Librarian Elaine Jackson said Monday.

The new schedule will be Mondays and Tuesdays from noon to 8 p.m., and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The summer schedule is Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The library is typically open 40 hours each summer, and 50 hours the rest of the year.

The board of library directors set the hours.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER covers Norton for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.