APRIL 23, 2008

LEGISLATOR WROBLEWSKI PLEASED WITH LIBRARY RESTORATION OF SERVICES, CONTINUED HIGH USE OF FACILITIES IN COUNTY

The Erie County Legislature Finance and Management Committee was pleased to receive a positive report from officials from the Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries (BECPL) when representatives presented their 2008 capital spending plan comments last week.

County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga) was pleased to hear the library delegation of Director Bridget Quinn-Carey, Chief Financial Officer Kenneth H. Stone and Chief Operating Officer Mary Jean Jakubowski express gratitude for the $1.6 million in restoration funding approved by the County Legislature. A document the library officials distributed noted that the funding "will have maximum impact, strengthening service at 26 libraries and system services to all libraries."

"Many libraries have restored open hours on evenings and which are most in demand from the public, which means we are providing more service directly to taxpayers," Legislator Wroblewski said.

Legislator Wroblewski was also pleased that the West Seneca Public Libraries are able to stay open three more evening hours per week, from 6-9 p.m., with a professional librarian assigned to young adult and youth services, after receiving $15,014 in restoration funds. This allows the West Seneca libraries to be open six days and four evening per week, and also provides for programming for tweens and teens which started in March and the purchase of more materials. Legislator Wroblewski is also pleased that the nearby Cheektowaga Public Libraries, including the Anna M. Reinstein Memorial Library on Harlem Road, received $59,513 in restoration funds to keep that library open four more evening hours, from 5-9 p.m. Wednesdays, and to restore a staff position to assist in providing services, reference and reader's advisory services.

The BECPL report noted that system-wide circulation year-to-date through March is up 4 percent (even counting the March Easter holiday), with Sunday circulation up more than 30 percent and year-to-date computer use at the libraries up 41 percent.

"The County Legislature and the library system have worked as partners to restore needed library service, which our constituents have repeatedly told us is a service they value," Legislator Wroblewski said.

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