Buffalo & Erie Library Faces Budget Crisis

Public library may be forced to close almost 40 percent of its branches

By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 9/1/2005

Faced with a $7.5 million shortfall, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is recommending it shut 20 of its 52 branches next year—with two already scheduled to close in the next three months.

“The capital outlay is just not there,” says Kenneth Stone, the library’s chief financial officer. “We’re looking at lots of options. But can we raise $7.5 million? No.”

At issue is $5 million earmarked for capital improvements—like new books—that the county has refused to borrow and give to the library, says Stone. That’s on top of $2.5 million in cuts made to the library’s budget this year, bringing it down to $21.7 million.

Local branches in Buffalo and Erie County have been notified that they need to find ways to make up their portion of the deficit, as well as prepare for the potential closures next year. The town of Tonawanda, NY, responded first by deciding to close two of its five branches this fall—the Greenhaven branch on October 1 and the Brighton branch on November 1. “We expect more to take action,” says Stone.

Buffalo’s school libraries are reportedly in danger from budget shortfalls as well. The school district is fighting the unions over health insurance policies, which the district wants to consolidate, and has let go 114 teachers and administrators—including at least 29 school librarians, according to published reports.

As for Buffalo & Erie County’s public libraries, Stone remains resigned, albeit a bit hopeful. “The situation is fluid,” he says. “But you can’t run a library without books.”