News from the land of LISNews HQ, where public libraries across Erie County (NY) would be forced to close their doors if a major funding cutback announced Monday by the Erie County administration takes effect, library officials said.
The $18 million cut in county funding would slash the 52-branch library system’s 2005 operating budget by more than 50 percent, according to Library Director Michael C. Mahaney.
“Cuts of this magnitude – it’s just devastating,” Mahaney said. “That’s taking most of our operating money away. Most of the libraries in the county would be forced to close.”
Buffalo News Has The Story
Buffalo’s Decline
Yet another sad reminder of the state of affairs in Buffalo.
That’s really disappointing.
Of course this is some guy’s law of Economics. I can’t remember his name but when you want to raise taxes cut funds for the programs the people want. Cut funding for the visible programs that affect the average citizen. Libraries, transportation, elderly care. People don’t care if programs like the subway and the deserted fare free zone, or the community redevelopment agency, or lawmakers subsidized parking go away – in fact they would probably be happy if those programs went away.
Anyway Buffalonians, including those to whom I am related, are tired of being taxed to death. It would be really sad if the libraries really do have their funding cut. I remember using the libraries in West Seneca, Elma and the Cazenovia branch. I loved being a kid in Buffalo.
Re:That’s really disappointing.
The Crane Library on Elmwood was my neighbourhood branch. Lovely library with welcoming staff. And the downtown library was *the* place for research. How sad that something so needed might go.