By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Another local library branch has been forced to to close its doors for good. The Blasdell Branch permanently shut down this week.
The Blasdell branch is one of 16-libraries scheduled to close by the end of this year.
Due to Erie County's on-going fiscal crisis, the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System could not allocate funding to those branches for 2006.
Wednesday was the official closing date for the Blasdell facility. But Tuesday was actually the last day of service for residents because the branch was normally closed on Wednesdays.
Director Jack Edson was completing work at the branch Wednesday. He said it a very sad time. Edson said the smaller branches tend to have more sentimental meaning to residents
"This is a special little place," said Edson. "I remember coming here the first time in my life when I was four years old. My mother walked us down, and I couldn't believe how nice it was. That was more than 50 years ago."
Edson said trying to close down a branch is a massive undertaking.
"It is a big job with all the materials and equipment. There are a million details," said Edson. "It is like moving out of a house, and all the things you need to do, but multiply that by ten."
As part of the shutdown, the Blasdell staffers have been asked to remove the new materials to take to other nearby branches, because those items remain property of the County system.
Residents are being urged to visit other branches in nearby Hamburg.
"We have a number of Libraries that remain opened in the area. In Hamburg we have two that are still open, in the Village of Hamburg and the Lakeshore Library, on Lakeshore Road," said Edson.
The Village of Blasdell is planning to take over the building so the former branch site does not remain vacant.