By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Five libraries that had been slated for closing in the Buffalo area may have new life.
The Buffalo and Erie County Library System has 52 branches. But a cut in county financial support has forced library officials to reduce that number. Last week, they came up with a list of 24 library branches that could be closed. Yesterday, that number was reduced to 20 -- with five branches removed from the closing list while a new one was added.
Library Director Michael Mahaney says three of the branches that are likely to be saved are in southern Erie County.
"There were unserved areas in the southern portion of the county that the board felt needed to be addressed," Mahaney said. "So, the libraries we are returning at this point would be the Angola, North Collins and Lakeshore branches."
In addition, the East Clinton branch in Buffalo and the Kenilworth branch in Tonawanda were removed from the closing list. But the Northwest branch in Buffalo was added.
The library's board of directors is seeking ways of saving $6 million. Besides closings, Mahaney said they're exploring ways of reducing staff.
"We're hoping that these reductions and adjustments in personnel would be transparent to the community," Mahaney said. "We would make some changes internally, but the public wouldn't see a difference in terms of staffing and service."
A public hearing on library closings is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 4 at the library auditorium downtown.
The board is expected to make a final decision on branch closings by the end of the month.