The Abbot Library in Marblehead may need to close its doors in December if the town doesn’t pass an override to address a roughly $7 million budget deficit, a move that could put additional pressure on the Swampscott Public Library.
“It’s kind of bleak,” said Jonathan Nichols, the Swampscott Public Library director.
The Marblehead library’s future remains uncertain as the town considers major service cuts to balance its budget. Marblehead has a projected $7.7 million deficit for fiscal year 2027. Library services account for about $5 million of the town’s budget, Director Kimberly Grad previously said.
On March 4, Marblehead Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said two scenarios are under consideration: closing the library entirely or cutting its salary budget by about 50% while eliminating the materials budget and access to the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE).
“We’re hopeful. I talk with Kim a lot,” Nichols said. “Best case scenario, we hope obviously, is full funding.”
Each year, libraries must qualify for state aid, which allows directors to apply for grants and additional funding. If Marblehead is able to make cuts across town — rather than disproportionately targeting the library — the library could qualify for a waiver allowing it to remain certified for a year.
The following year, the budget would need to be addressed again.
“Apart from full-funding, that’s the best case scenario,” Nichols said, noting though that “it’s one of those things that have to be granted.” “The second they become certified / the library closes – which is the worst case scenario – their entire community basically is shut off. It’s like a water faucet.”
Being “shut off” would also mean losing access to materials, e-materials, rentals, meeting rooms, programs, games and services at any of the other 17 libraries in the NOBLE system.
“Hypothetically say they close or are decertified – what does that mean for all of our events and story times? They don’t have anywhere to go, but they have 10,000 to 11,000 active library users that are going to be looking for a new home,” Nichols said. “We’re thinking these things through, trying to fit that into our service model but also realizing that we are going to have some real limitations, both with our own staffing and funding. We can’t shoulder the burden of an entire community without additional support.”
While Nichols noted he is not the one who would make the decision, he said some small towns in Massachusetts offer pay-in nonresident library cards. Those cards provide access to digital resources, physical books and services such as museum passes.
As Marblehead considers a tax override to preserve certain services, libraries must report financial information to the state for certification in the fall, Nichols said.
“I believe if they still take out an override in December, they’ve already missed the deadline,” Nichols said.
Looking at Swampscott, Nichols said that while funding has been cut consistently each year, he does not believe the town is facing a similar situation.
“I think they’re trying to manage the budget as best they can. I know that we are kind of in a precarious short fall as well this year that they’re working through,” Nichols said. “But it seems to be looking ok. I think we’ll have some reductions but it doesn’t mean service will be affected. It will be that we’ll basically have to find other grants or avenues for funding which is par for the course.”
