Citizens Request Hearings For North Park Branch Library

Eric Ortner
North Buffalo Rocket

On Thursday, May 11, 2000, a group of concerned citizens launched a demonstration at the corner of Hertel and Delaware Avenues. The North Park Branch library along with the Fairfield Branch Library may be closed if the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library's strategic plan comes to fruition. The libraries would be merged into one giant hub reminiscent of the Central Branch Library.

The Library Board of Directors has held 22 hearings on the subject. However, no hearing was conducted at The North Park Library despite the fact that the library's patrons would be effected by Strategic Plan. A hearing was held at the Fairfield Branch Library. At that meeting very few people mentioned the fact that the North Park Library was also a concern. 

It is equally important to note that there are seven libraries that will not be effected by the closings that did get a public hearing. Therefore, these protesters feel that the patrons of the North Park Library have not gotten a fair shake in this decision making process.

The Green Party was largely responsible for staging this protest. They have been circulating a petition urging that the Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries strategic plan be dropped. Members of the Erie County Legislator had the chance to speak with Al Debenedeti who stopped by to listen to the citizens' complaints. 

The public libraries' Executive Director Diane Chrisman has stated that some changes to the Strategic Plan will be made as a result of the public hearings that were held. However, what these changes will be remains unclear. 

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