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NORTON

Nine-year-old Isabel Koran left the Attleboro Public Library last Saturday without the book she had reserved the night before.

Koran's Norton Public Library card isn't good anymore in Attleboro - and most other local libraries.

When the Norton library lost its state certification last Thursday, Norton residents lost their interlibrary loan privileges.

Library officials had warned of that ramification since voters cut the library budget at the May 2008 annual town meeting. Now, Norton residents are realizing the threat was real.

"My 9-year-old was sad," Isabel's mother, Rowena Koran, said Tuesday in the Norton library's children's area.

"The librarians here are important. (Youth Services Librarian and Assistant Head Librarian) Lee Parker is amazing," Koran said. "She always thinks about my daughter because my daughter is an advanced reader.

"It's a huge loss to the town."

Tuesday was the Norton library's first day open since the state board of library commissioners voted last Thursday against granting the town a waiver preserving the state certification.

The board granted 22 waivers and denied four. All four communities that were denied waivers had budget cuts that were more than 30 percent higher than cuts to other town departments. The highest cut the board supported was 14 percent.

The Norton library's budget was cut 33 percent.

Norton now is among 17 decertified public libraries in the state, state board Chairman George Comeau told selectmen Chairwoman Mary Steele in a letter. Head Librarian Elaine Jackson provided The Sun Chronicle with a copy.

"While we recognize that all communities are facing extremely difficult fiscal climates, the Norton Public Library has been placed in great risk by gross cuts that may lead to disastrous effect," Comeau wrote.

The SAILS regional library network has since e-mailed Norton residents about the decertification, Jackson said. Library officials also have composed a flyer addressing frequently asked questions.

Jackson said many patrons e-mailed her over the weekend.

"People were shocked. They didn't think this was going to happen," she said. "They're mad that the board of library commissioners hasn't given Norton a waiver.

"In reality, it was a disproportionate cut."

Resident Linda Currivan said not having interlibrary loan privileges means "there's a lot less choices now as far as borrowing books."

The library's reduced schedule - it's closed on Fridays and weekends, for budget reasons - already has hurt, said Currivan, who was visiting the library with her daughter 10-year-old daughter, Sara.

"We're not able to get here as often as we'd like. We used to come every Saturday," Currivan said.

And now, going to other area libraries, such as Attleboro, is no longer an option, either.

Attleboro Public Library Assistant Director Joan Pilkington-Smyth said Norton residents seem to understand they can use her library, but no longer borrow materials.

"They're a little shellshocked," Pilkington-Smyth said. "It's been tough for our staff, because some of these people they've gotten to know."

Jackson said the following public libraries have voted to allow Norton residents to continue borrowing their materials: Freetown, Bridgewater, Wareham, Swansea, Bristol Community College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and all K-12 schools in the SAILS network.

Bridgewater, Freetown and Wareham all have decertified libraries, she said.

Rehoboth resident Adam McClellan, a 2004 graduate of Norton High School, said students will be hurt by the changes.

McClellan said he used interlibrary loans when he was a student.

"I think students mostly try to do projects," McClellan said. "I think it's probably going to be pretty big for students."

Jackson said she is suggesting residents join the Friends of the Norton Public Library to stay informed about the issue.

She also suggested residents e-mail their selectmen, finance committee members and Town Manager James Purcell.

With proper funding, October 2010 is the earliest that Norton could meet the state standards to reapply for certification, she said. The state vote would be in February 2011.

Voters must increase the library's budget at this May's annual town meeting, Jackson said.

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