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Residents Plead with Buffalo Library Board to Keep BranchesSome 150 patrons showed up at the Buffalo and Erie County (N.Y.) Public Library board meeting August 4 to protest its decision to shutter nearly half the system’s branches next year. For nearly two hours, 52 patrons passionately told trustees that they relied on the libraries to use computers and help tutor their children, and that the branches were important for poor neighborhoods and rural areas in the county, the August 5 Buffalo News reported.“I can’t see why you should close it,” said Williamsville branch patron Edward Reich. “You’re talking about a large village, with people going into shops.” Sonya Manning of Eden said she relied on the library when she moved to town several years earlier. “I get so much out of that library,” she told the board. “Erie County doesn’t know what they have.” However, later in the meeting the board approved a four-year plan to submit to County Executive Joel Giambra that includes laying off 100 employees and closing 20 branches—instead of 24 contemplated at the previous week’s meeting—in order to fix a $6 million deficit. Trustees postponed a decision on which branches to close until the end of the month. The plan also proposes to consolidate and rebuild new county libraries in several areas, including the Town of Tonawanda. The board also agreed to reduce funding to all county libraries by 20% during the last quarter of 2005 in order to use $1 million to purchase new materials, money which the county had not provided this year. Library Director Michael C. Mahaney told the News that the cuts might mean shorter hours for the rest of the year or in some cases closings for those branches that can’t take the additional hit. Posted August 5, 2005. |
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