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Posted August 26, 2005.

Towns Find Money to Keep Four Buffalo Branches Open

Four branches of the beleaguered Buffalo and Erie County (N.Y.) Public Library have been spared from closing, thanks to agreements made by local town governments to provide funding. At an August 25 planning meeting, the library took the Alden, Boston, Eden, and Marilla branches off the list of 20 that it has been considering for closure, the Buffalo News reported August 26.

The plan to cut the county library system from 52 to 36 branches next year will be presented to the entire 15-member library board for approval September 1. Four branches—North and South Cheektowaga, Brighton, and Greenhaven—are already taking steps to shut down this year. Tonawanda is considering building a new library in the center of town to eventually replace its five branches.

The current BECPL plan also includes laying off more than 100 full-time employees to help close an anticipated $6-million budget gap. Library CFO Kenneth H. Stone told the News, “Every library is going to see a reduction in staffing and resources. That’s the only way we have been able to save more libraries.”

Posted August 26, 2005.