Posted May 19, 2003.

Closure Averted at Massachusetts’s Venerable Franklin Library

Not only has the threat to close the Franklin (Mass.) Public Library been averted, but a new infusion of funding will enable the facility, one of the nation’s oldest public libraries, to expand its hours.

Announcing that cuts in state aid will not be as severe as anticipated, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting told the Franklin finance committee that he believes the town will even receive an additional $600,000 from the state in the next fiscal year. To cheers from more than 30 town residents attending the May 1 budget hearing, Nutting recommended that $60,000 of the additional funds go toward the library, the Woonsocket (R.I.) Call reported May 2.

The library’s hours were cut to four days a week when the town slashed its budget in March. “We’d like to keep it open five days a week at least,” said Nutting. “Eventually we’d like to go back to Sunday hours, but that can’t be our recommendation at this time.”

Posted May 19, 2003.