Central (downtown Buffalo)
Welcome to the downtown Central Library!
Central Library Hours
Monday & Tuesday: 8 am - 6 pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 8 am - 8 pm
Friday & Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 12 pm - 5 pm
The fully accessible Washington Street doors to enter/exit the building are open
during all library hours. The Washington St. entrance is located across from
Lafayette Square, between Broadway and Clinton Streets.
Important - the Library's Ellicott Street, underpass entrance to the building is open during limited hours: Monday-Friday.
Download This Week @ Central Schedule Here
Coming Up @ Central Library & Online: Jan 17 – 25 2026
Saturday, January 17 Library open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 3D Printer Certification Class. West Room *
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Stitch Circle. Launch Pad MakerSpace
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Pint-sized Picassos. West Room
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM The Buffalo Hive Community and Member Meeting. Collections Gallery Conference Rm
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Peaceful Playtime. West Room
Sunday, January 18 Library open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, January 19 Library closed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Tuesday, January 20 Library open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Tiny Tots Storytime. Children's Room
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM It Takes a Village Action Group. Collections Gallery Conference Room *
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Virtual IMAGINE Bflo Series: Dr. Kathryn Grow Allen, Ralph Wilson Park Heritage Engagement Project. BL.BuffaloLib.org/IMAGINEBuffalo
4:30 PM - 5:55 PM ISUPK Class. Collections Gallery Conference Room
Wednesday, January 21 Library open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Class Visit. Children's Room & West Room *
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM Information Table: Erie County Foster Parent Recruitment. Near Computers
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Tea Blend Workshop. Collections Gallery Conference Room *
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Walk-up Tech Help. Near Computers
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Make a Deco Cream Picture Frame. Teen Space
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Movie Matinee: Soul (2020). Ring of Knowledge
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM City of Buffalo Common Council Public Hearing on Housing. Auditorium
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Speculative Fiction Book Club. Collections Gallery Conference Room
Thursday, January 22 Library open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM It Takes a Village Action Group. Collections Gallery Conference Room *
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Internet Basics. TechKnow Lab *
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Walk-up Tech Help. Near Computers
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spectrum Health Anger Management Program. West Room *
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Library Foundation Meeting. Joseph B. Rounds Board Room
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Paging Through History: The Grosvenor Room Quiet Reading Club. Grosvenor Room
Friday, January 23 Library open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo Walk-in Legal Clinic. Study Rooms
Saturday, January 24 Library closed for electrical upgrades.
Sunday, January 25 Library closed for electrical upgrades.
The Library is expected to reopen on Monday, January 26 at 8 a.m.
Exhibits & Displays: Open during regular Library hours.
Buffalo & the Erie Canal: An Enduring Legacy. Ring of Knowledge
Christmas from the White House. Buffalo Presidential Center, open Saturdays 10 AM - 4 PM
Exhibits & Displays: Open during regular Library hours.
Buffalo & the Erie Canal: An Enduring Legacy. Ring of Knowledge
What Does It All Mean? Exploring the Dictionary. Rare Book Room, through January 14
Christmas from the White House. Buffalo Presidential Center, open Saturdays 10 AM - 4 PM
Programs denoted with an asterisk (*) are for pre-registered participants only.
Entering the Library:
Everyone must go through a weapon detection system to enter the Library.
The Washington St. entrance is open during all Library hours. The Ellicott St. open hours are varied. The Clinton St. entrance is only open for Auditorium programs.
We want to hear from you.
The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is exploring how future interior improvements @ the downtown Central Library can better meet the needs of Erie County residents.
Attend an online public engagement session on Wed., Nov 5 @ 7 p.m. via Zoom: https://bl.buffalolib.org/CEN-Zoom. To learn more visit: https://bl.buffalolib.org/CEN-Study
See the brochure here:
https://tinyurl.com/TBNCentral
Imagining Buffalo Niagara in the 21st Century
A lecture/discussion series held every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.
This program runs virtually on Zoom.
Calendar of programs.
Discussions are hosted by program founder Dennis Galucki. Call the Library for details about the speaker schedule, which is subject to change. 716-858-8900.
IMAGINE Buffalo is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Art, Architecture, History and Nature (C-SAAHN) in conjunction with the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
Archive of past IMAGINE Buffalo zoom programs beginning in Fall 2020.
Mason Winfield guest on the IMAGINE Buffalo program (audio) October 28, 2025 Mason Winfield guest on the IMAGINE Buffalo program (slides) October 28, 2025
Visit the Teens page for more information about middle school to high school age events and resources - www.BuffaloLib.org/Services/teens