APRIL 22, 2008

LEGISLATOR REYNOLDS 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 Robert B. Reynolds Jr. (D-Hamburg, Evans), vice-chair of the Finance and Management Committee, 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 the County Legislature approved in 2007. A document the library officials distributed noted the funding "will have maximum impact, strengthening service at 26 libraries and system services to all libraries."

"Many libraries, in my district and elsewhere, have restored open hours on evenings and weekends most in demand from the public, which means we are providing more service directly to taxpayers," Legislator Reynolds said. "Library officials tell us that the service and financial impacts are larger by increasing these services than by reopening closed libraries."

Legislator Reynolds was pleased that the Hamburg Public Libraries restored Sunday hours starting January 24 and restored Sunday hours at the Lakeshore Library from 1-5 p.m. Fridays starting January 4, and will offer a new Toddler Time program for kids age 2 due to new part-time staff after receiving $50,688 in restoration funds. The Eden Public Library was able to restore preschool story time and toddler time, with enrollment in each doubling, as well as outreach to Eden Elementary School and adding new and continuing other programs, through $10,506 in restoration funds. Also restored in Legislator Reynolds' district was $7,855 to keep the Angola Library open for 10 hours supported directly by this funding (and 6 days overall) and help raise private funds to keep it open 3 more hours, adding adult, teen and children's programs.

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. Library statistics indicate that the Lakeshore Library circulation has increased 19 percent from January-February 2008, with computer use increased by 53 percent during that period.

"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 Reynolds said.

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