PRESS RELEASES
CENTRAL LIBRARY ANNOUNCES CHANGE IN HOURS FOR SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS - Effective Oct. 31st
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Buffalo, NY --- Effective Monday, October 31st , the Central Library's Grosvenor Room (local history, genealogy, microform, music and rare books), Children's Room and Business, Science & Technology department will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm, Thursdays from 10 am to 8 pm and Sundays from 1 to 5 pm. The three departments will be closed on Fridays. Patrons may retrieve materials from these areas on Fridays by visiting Humanities and Social Sciences located on the first floor.
Open hours are being reduced due to the 2006 level of funding the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (B&ECPL) expects to receive from Erie County. Combining a $21.7 million 2006 Library Tax levy with the loss of County Capital funding for Library materials, Erie County's 2006 support for B&ECPL operating and library materials descends to levels not seen since 1996-97 -- $7 million and 24.5% less than the Library received in 2004.
“ This drastically reduced support will erode the Library's ability to serve Erie County residents properly,” said Director Michael C. Mahaney . “Restoring even a portion of the $7 million reduction would make a major difference.”
The national average for library materials budgets is 15% of operating expenditures. The 2006 proposed Library budget allocates materials money at only half of this average. Through a $2 to $3 million increase in operating revenue or the issuance of even a portion of the adopted 2005 $5 million County capital budget for library materials (not received to date), the 2006 library materials budget could approach or exceed the national average.
“The public already faces drastic reductions in services through library closings and reduced open hours at remaining locations,” added Mahaney.
The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System connects Erie County 's diverse communities with library resources that enrich, enlighten and entertain.