Isaías González-Soto Branch Library

Isaías González-Soto Branch Library
Library Info

280 Porter Ave
Buffalo, NY 14201
United States

716-882-1537
Christine Webb, Branch Manager

Located on the corner of Porter Ave. and Prospect Ave. Parking Lot on Prospect Ave with 2 accessible spaces and 17 other spaces.

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NFTA Bus Route: 5 & 22
NFTA Trip Planner

Computers, Printing & Faxing: 

  • Free Public Wifi
    • Network - BECPL2
    • Password - librarywifi
  • 19 Public Access Computers
  • 2 Scanners
  • 4 Children's Computers
  • 1 Online Catalog Computer
  • Microsoft Office Applications
  • Printing, including Mobile Printing:
    • 10 cents per page Black & White
    • 25 cents per page Color
    • Cash Only
  • Copier (Black & White only)
    • Copier (Black & White only)
    • 15 cents per side - Letter (8.5 x 11 inches)
    • 30 centers per side - Legal (8.5 x 14 inches)
    • Cash Only
  • Fax Machine
    • $1.75 for the 1st page + $1.00 for each additional page.
    • 20 page maximum per fax
    • Cash or Card

"What can I do at a Public Access Computer?"
 

Meeting and Study Rooms: 

  • Study Room
    • Capacity 9
    • 2 hour reservations
    • Call 716-882-1537 or Sign up in person, no application needed
  • Auditorium, accessible stage
    • Capacity 92
    • Requires application/reservation (see below)
  • Small Meeting Room
    • Capacity 27
    • Requires application/reservation (see below)

Download the policies associated with using our Auditorium and Meeting Room:

Facility Use Policy
This document must be read by everyone planning to use a space in a library for a meeting.

Rules of Conduct (pdf)
This document must be read by everyone planning to use a space in a library for a meeting.

Application and Fee Structure (pdf)

What's Special About the Isaias Gonzalez-Soto Library?

  • Outlets and free wifi throughout building
  • Open floor plan with plenty of natural light
  • Indoor mural by Angelee Vargas
  • Auditorium with accessible stage, meeting room, and study room
  • Located next to Prospect Park
  • Spanish language materials
  • Language kits, including English as a Second Language (ESL), Spanish, French, Arabic, and Somali.

Policies

B&ECPL Policies

System-Wide Policies

The Isaías González-Soto Branch Library (formerly Niagara Branch) is a member of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System.

  • Isaías González-Soto Branch Library

    Mural showing six cartoon portraits by artist Angelee Vargas. A middle-grade girl of Asian descent holds up a peace sign. A woman with an afro smiles. An elderly man with a long beard, glasses, and a head covering smiles. A woman with blond hair waves. A man with a fedora and tie smiles. A man with glasses and blue eyes waves.

    Please visit your improved Isaías González-Soto Branch Library located at 280 Porter Avenue in Buffalo, NY.
    There is a parking lot available next to the library (enter the lot via Prospect Avenue).

    Upcoming Events

    Individuals in need of an accommodation may contact the ADA Coordinator at access@buffalolib.org within 7 days of the program

    Dungeons & Dragons: Underwood

    Dungeons & Dragons: Underwood
    Players are needed - Be a Hero!
    Saturdays 1pm-5pm - Beginning January 2026
    Lower Level - Small Meeting Room

    Dungeons & Dragons: Underwood is a homebrew fantasy role playing game set in the late-medieval/early renaissance period, circa AD 1565.

    • Ages 8+, adults without children are welcome
    • Easy to play, no experience needed
    • Choose from classes like Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Thief, Dwarf, and Elf
    • Loot dungeons, slay dragons, ride a Pegasus
    • Tech in the Age of Sail includes swords, pikes, crossbows, expensive flint-locks and cannons
    • Superstitions are rampant

    Optional: Try to bring a printed picture of your hero (character)! If you forget, the DM will have temporary images for you to use.

    The underworld is stirring!

    Villainous Family Movie
    Megamind (rated PG)
    Thursday, January 8th, 4:00pm-5:30pm

    Join us for a showing of one of the best modern superhero stories, in our opinion: Megamind (2010, rated PG). As always there will be snacks!

    "Though he is the most-brilliant supervillain the world has known, Megamind (Will Ferrell) is the least-successful. Thwarted time and again by heroic Metro Man (Brad Pitt), Megamind is more surprised than anyone when he actually manages to defeat his longtime enemy. But without Metro Man, Megamind has no purpose in life, so he creates a new opponent, who quickly decides that it's more fun to be a bad guy than a hero." (Description from Google)

    All Ages Craft - Valentine's Cards and Mailboxes
    Megamind (rated PG)
    Thursday, January 29th - 4:00-5:30pm

    Join us in making mailboxes for your Valentines cards! Valentines is incomplete without a proper mailbox to receive your special cards. We will also be making cards for friends and family if you finish your mailbox early. Snacks, drinks and music will be available for everyone participating. No mailbox will be too extreme, the more glitter and color the better!
    This event is for all ages. Adults without kids are welcome.
    Registration is required for proper craft material preparation.
    Please visit buffalolib.libcal.com/calendar/event/ValDayMailbox or call 716-882-1537 to register.

    Technology Tuesdays
    Tuesdays 9:30am - 11:30 am

    For extended help with technological devices (learning how to use a computer, setting up your phone, etc.) Appointments taken first, walk-ins welcome. 45-minute sessions. To sign up, please ask at the desk or call 716-882-1537.

    La Letra Dorada
    Beginning February 4th, 2026
    Every other Wednesday 1:30pm-3:00pm

    Grupo de escritura creativa en español
    La Letra Dorada es un espacio donde los participantes leerán, escribirán y escucharán en español. Aquí, se compartirán historias y reflexiones que fortalecerán la memoria, la creatividad y la conexión cultural.
    Información, West Side Community Services, Aileen Gonzalez-Marti 716-884-6616 x 101
     
    What is La Letra Dorada?: It is a dynamic initiative that seeks to strengthen intergenerational ties through reading and creative writing. Focused on Spanish-language literature, this initiative promotes mental well-being, cultural expression, and lifelong learning.
    Information: West Side Community Services, Aileen Gonzalez-Marti 716-884-6616 x 101

    Creative Writing Workshop
    February 5 - March 12, 2026
    Thursdays 10:30-11:30am

    Humanities Professor, Paul Kindlon, teaches the fundamentals of creative writing, using his extensive experience as a writer of 100+ published short stories, poems, articles, plays, and more. Build your skills by attending more than one session. New information each time.

    A cartoon duck holds a mug of coffee and invites you to drop into Isaías Craft Café every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 5 to 7pm. A record player, box of pocky (a Japanese cookie snack) and friendship bracelet made of embroidery floss adorn the rest of the image.

    Isaías Craft Café
    Drop-in
    2nd Wednesdays 5:00pm-7:00pm

    Enjoy a featured world snack and our coffee/tea bar. Unwind while listening to selections from the Library's historic record collection. Make the featured nostalgic craft (think friendship bracelets, boondoggle, bead buddies, fuse beads) or bring your own project to work on!

    Aerial picture of a group of people sitting on a wooden floor around a Cluedo game board.

    Board Game Club
    4th Wednesdays
    5:30pm - 7:00pm

    All Ages - Play one of our classic games or try one out from Central’s Gaming Unplugged (available for checkout)!

     

  • Buffalo Branches Board Info

    Library System Information on the Board of Trustees

    The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System Board of Trustees is the governing body for the downtown Central Library, and the eight branch libraries located in the city of Buffalo. These include: Crane, Dudley, East Clinton,  Frank E. Merriweather, Jr., North Park, Elaine M. Panty Branch Library, Isaías González-Soto Branch Library, and the Leroy R. Coles, Jr. Branch Library.

    All System Board of Trustee meetings and committee meetings are open to the public

    Monthly board meeting schedules, agendas and minutes.