By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A fight is underway to keep the Williamsville Library branch open. Amherst Town Supervisor Susan Grelick and the Mayor of Williamsville are calling on Erie County to reconsider its plans for the proposed closing.
Grelick calls the decision to close the Williamsville branch shortsighted and flawed.
The library is on the proposed list of branches slated to close due to Erie County's fiscal crisis.
But Grelick said the Williamsville branch was not on the original closing list. It recently appeared on the revised list.
Grelick said the Williamsville branch serves a large percentage of seniors and youth, and has one of the highest circulations in the system.
"It topped 154,000. So this is a library that is used to capacity. To close it would only over burden the other libraries in the town. We already have crowded buildings and waiting lines. All our buildings are at maximum use. It does not make sense to close this library. It will not make the system more efficient," saidd Grelick.
The Mayor of Williamsville, Mary Lowther, said the village is in the process of drafting a new comprehensive plan that promotes a "walkable" Williamsville, making the library an important component of that plan.
Grelick said they are calling on county library leaders to reconsider their decision.
"The Williamsville Library scored only one point shy of staying open. We scored 299 and we needed 300 to remain open on the Library system's evaluation. It would be a pity to lose our library based on just one point."
Grelick calls the process unfair. She said the branch provides a critical service for the village and town. A "Save the Williamsville Library" organization has been formed, and a meeting will be held on the evening of August 17. Petitions are also in the works.