Audubon (now named Honorable Shirley Chisholm Library)

The Honorable Shirley Chisholm Library (formerly named Amherst Main Library at Audubon) is located one mile north of the SUNY University at Buffalo North Campus on John James Audubon Parkway between North Forest Road and Dodge Road; Exit 3 from I-990.

We are in the same complex as the Amherst Police Station, Courthouse and Senior Center. We are also near the walking trails for Walton Woods Park, which is also a NYS DEC Birding Trail location.  

Plenty of free parking is available. 

Route 34 – Amherst Town Center 
NFTA Trip Planner

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmherstPublicLibrary/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amherstpubliclibrary/ 
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amherstlib/ 

Features

• Wheelchair accessible
• Wi-fi available (Network: BECPL2, Password: librarywifi)
• Public Access Computers:
  For Adults, 13 desktop computers and 2 laptops for in-library use -- with Microsoft Office Applications (2016), Internet Access, etc.; Flatbed scanner available;
  3 computers dedicated for Online Catalog; 
  8 computers dedicated for Youth;
  Printing and Mobile Printing charges: B&W 10¢ per page, color 25¢ per page.
   "What can I do at a Public Access Computer?"
• Self check-out machines using RFID technology
• Courtesy Charging Stations – There are two located in the library, near the holds pickup shelf and in the children’s area by the windows.
• Meeting Rooms – The Mary & George Bobinski Community Room is divided into two spaces. Community Room 1 (capacity for 80 people) and Community Room 2 (capacity 100 people) used for Library Programs; available for use by the public for community meetings having educational, cultural, governmental, not-for-profit or civic purposes (advanced reservation required). Please review the Library Meeting Room Policy prior to booking. Please note that capacity does not take into account chairs or tables. Groups may specify setup needs, but are responsible for final placement. Up to 10 tables and 150 chairs are available for use (which may be split between rooms if there is more than one event taking place). There is a TV in each room with HDMI capabilities and its use must be requested at time of reservation.
   
• 4 Study Rooms are available for individual use and small groups (advance reservations recommended). Walk-ins must check in at the Librarian Desk to reserve a room. Time slots are available for up to 2 hours.
  
   
• Maker Space, open to all youth while the library is open, unless reserved in advance by the library for an event.
• Copy machine, black & white only, 20¢ per copy
• Drop Box - attached to building, for library material returns, open 24/7. This is the only automated drop box in Western New York, discharging materials as soon as they are inserted. Book donations should not be placed into the drop box.
• Display Case - large showcase, 88 inches wide, 43 inches high, and 13.5 inches deep -- available for groups to reserve.
• Optelec ClearView Video Magnifier - a useful tool for people with low vision. The viewer offers various magnification and contrast display options, making reading and viewing photos and documents easier. Donated by the Amherst Lions Club
• Ongoing Book Sale in library during open hours.

The Collection

The library has a wide assortment of materials, housing books for all ages. These include Large Print, Newspapers, Magazines, Graphic Novels, Fiction and Nonfiction.

We offer an extensive collection of non-print materials, including DVDs/Blu-Rays, audiobooks on CD and many genres of music CDs. The Amherst Libraries also have a Library of Things collection and read-along books for youth (VOX & Wonderbooks).

There are World Languages book collections for adults and children. Languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Spanish and more. International, subtitled, and non-English language films are also available on DVD/Blu-Ray.

The library is also the home of the Western New York Seed Library.

What's Special About this Amherst Library

The Amherst Main Library at Audubon opened in 1987 within the Audubon New Community in Amherst, and has become to one of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System’s largest and busiest community library, home to among the most diverse populations in Erie County. A 6500 square foot renovation was completed in March 2023, which created a new children’s area focused on early literacy & developmental play, additional study rooms, a Maker Space, extra bathrooms and an expanded community room. At the end of 2025, the Town of Amherst renamed the building to the Honorable Shirley Chisholm Library.

We host a wide variety of events for all ages and fundraise by having big book sales throughout the year.

In Summer 2025 a playground was installed by the Town of Amherst adjacent to the library.