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What
does DECERTIFICATION mean to you?
Effective February 7, 2008, the Bridgewater Public
Library was officially decertified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Th
There are several consequences of library decertification:
| > Bridgewater
residents may no longer borrow books or other materials from many
area libraries, including our neighboring towns of West Bridgewater,
East Bridgewater, Raynham, Halifax, Middleboro, Taunton, Kingston,
Whitman and Lakeville.* |
| > Bridgewater
residents may no longer reserve books or other materials from
area libraries, including those listed above. |
| > The
Bridgewater Public Library will no longer receive State Aid from the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, resulting in a loss of approximately
$39,000 to spend on materials. |
| > The
Bridgewater Public Library is prohibited from applying for state or
federal grant money. |
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However, as a
resident of Bridgewater, you may continue to:
| > Borrow
books and materials owned by the Bridgewater Public Library. |
| > Reserve
books and materials on-line (from home or elsewhere) available from the
Bridgewater Public Library (and from those few libraries which choose to
offer us services.) |
| > Use
the public computers that offer Internet access and Microsoft Office. |
| >
Visit other libraries and use their resources in-house. |
| > Use
the research databases offered
through the MBLC and SEMLS. |
| > Use
Audio Books, eBooks, Tumblebooks and Music offered though the SAILS Download
Library. |
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| *A complete list of local libraries that voted not to loan
materials to patrons living in a town with a decertified library is
available at the library's public service desks and on our website. |
| What action can Bridgewater
residents take to help the public library regain its certification? |
| You can help by writing your elected Board of Selectmen and asking for
the library to be fully funded in the next fiscal year. Address
letters to: Chairman, Bridgewater Board of Selectmen, 25 South
Street, Bridgewater, MA 02324. Please mail or drop off a copy of
your letter to: Library Director, Bridgewater Public Library, 15
South Street, Bridgewater, MA 02324. |
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