PRESS RELEASES
A STATEMENT REGARDING THE CLOSING OF THE DEPEW BRANCH LIBRARY
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Lancaster, NY – The B&ECPL Trustees have adopted a requested budget for calendar year 2006 that combines both the Operations Budget and Materials Budget into one budget. The total 2006 budget for both Operations and Materials is at the same level as what the Operations Budget was for calendar year 2005. That action reduces the Operations Budget for all libraries in the system.
The requested budget for Lancaster Public Library contains no funding for operating the Depew Branch Library and eliminates two full-time librarians and 52% of part-time librarian hours as well as other staff and operations reductions.
The budget reductions are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
The Lancaster Public Library Board of Trustees believe it is in the best interests of the citizens of the Town of Lancaster to maintain the best possible library service to the community with available resources
The Trustees believe the best interests of the community would be served by closing the Depew Branch and concentrating all resources at the Lancaster Branch, where the reference collection is housed and where space is available to integrate some of Depew 's collection, shelving and equipment.
At its September 19 th meeting, the Lancaster Public Library Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution to close the Depew Branch Library.
The library will cease operations on December 16, 2005 .