This past August marked the first time in many years that the Morrill Memorial Library has been able to welcome visitors seven days a week in July and August. The Norwood Town Meeting recently approved the financial support the library needs to stay open seven days a week all year. The expanded hours went into effect once the new Fiscal Year turned over and we confirmed the support of all of the key parties, including Town Administration and the staff Labor Union. 

The library, located at 33 Walpole St., is now open the following hours:

Monday; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday;1-5: p.m.

Library Director Clayton Cheever explained the reasons behind the library hours extensions.

“We have been watching the numbers of people visiting the library every day of the week and Saturdays have stood out as our busiest day for months on end,” Cheever. “We know a lot of people in Norwood have to work from Monday to Friday and can only carve out time to visit us on the weekend. We have also historically experienced the slow return of library patrons on weekends after we have been closed in past summers. It is remarkable how quickly all of us can develop routines and how long those routines then take to change. The more consistent our hours, the better we can serve the greater community.”

Before the recent extension of library hours, Sunday open hours (from October through Memorial Day only) were for an hour less time, opening later at 2 p.m. 

“Even just one extra hour can provide a better window for potential visitors, and just makes us that much more available to our patrons,” Cheever said.

As the world is experiencing one of the hottest summers on record, the library is prepared to serve as a cooling center to help people find relief from the heat. Studies have shown that the presence of welcoming cooling centers saves lives during times of extreme heat. Being open seven days a week greatly expands the library’s ability to provide this vital service to our community’s most vulnerable members. Cheever appreciates the billboard in front of another library that reads ‘We love you air-conditionally.’

In conjunction with the expanded hours, the library is also aligning the days it is closed with the holiday closure schedule for the rest of Norwood town government. For example, the Library will be closed the Friday after Thanksgiving, and when a holiday falls on a weekend (like Veterans day and others will sometimes) the library will be closed for the town’s observance on either Friday or Monday, in addition to being closed on the holiday itself. This alignment will help improve consistency with other town departments, as well as provide reliable support for library staff and their families.

The library’s hours and holiday closure schedule are posted online at www.norwoodlibrary.org/hours-and-closings/. Inclement weather can impact opening and closing times, so whenever in doubt, visitors should call to verify by calling the library at 781-769-0200.