Closure Looms for County Libraries

There is a sign on the door of the Audubon Library that reads, in sharp black print, "After January 1, 2005, these doors will be locked!"

"At first I thought it wouldn't happen," said Peter Arnold, a librarian at Amherst's central library, not five minutes from UB's North Campus. "Now it turns out to be a very real possibility. We're preparing to close down."

While the situation at the Audubon Library might seem like fiction, the reality is that librarians countywide might soon be unemployed due to a proposed Erie County budget that would force all 52 local libraries to either severely cut their services or close entirely.

"We're one of the most cost-effective library systems in the country," said Mary Bobinski, director of the Amherst Public Libraries. "But we've been squeezed and squeezed, and there's nothing left to give."

Closing Erie County's libraries would irreparably harm the many students and professors who depend on them, members of the UB community said.

If the libraries were to close, UB could not compensate for the loss of intellectual resources, according to Judith Robinson, the chair of UB's library sciences department.

"There are many items at the public library that UB does not collect," Robinson said. "In that sense, UB would not be able to satisfy the need for more diverse sources."

Closing the system or cutting back funds would also increase traffic at UB's libraries, Robinson said.

"There's overlap between the two collections. It would certainly cause stress on our UB collections," Robinson said. "There's a database that both our systems share."

Barbara VonWahlde, associate vice president for University Libraries, also said there is a breech between the UB and public library systems.

"We don't collect fiction or periodicals to the same degree that the public libraries do," VonWahlde said. "In the absence of a public library, you're up a creek. I don't know that we could in any way be a substitute."

"Libraries have a good effect on the community," she added. "I see people there ranging from children to senior citizens, and many different ethnicities. It's also a gives you the intellectual freedom and privacy to read what you want."

Even if County Executive Joel Giambra switches to an alternative budget for 2005, the library community would still suffer considerable cutbacks and closures.

Many concerned students said they found the possibility of a countywide closure almost unimaginable.

"It's ridiculous that a big city like this wouldn't have a public library system. It's essential to the people that use it," said Stacie Thomann, a sophomore nursing major. "It never even occurred to me that people would think of closing it down. I can see them closing down a few branches, but not the entire system."

Liana Vardi, a European history professor, said she is outraged that the county would even consider closing down the system.

"The library is providing something essential for people in the (UB) system and outside the system," Vardi said. "What's exceptional is the library's ability to bring in fresh material. It's something that's alive. That's why it's so important."

Ilaria Scaglia, a teaching assistant for one of UB's World Civilizations courses, said her students often use the large multimedia collections offered at local libraries.

"The local libraries often have things that Lockwood does not offer," Scaglia said. "It's a system that works exceptionally well in the city. It would be a catastrophe to close it down. It should be the last thing to be cut, if ever."

Aaron Knoll, a junior environmental design major, said he believes the "red budget," as Giambra has called the budget that would close all Erie County libraries, is an empty threat.

"Giambra himself has said he doesn't want the budget to pass. It won't, and the red budget is just to rile up a few people about Medicaid," Knoll said. "Some libraries may close, but it won't be the whole system."

Regardless of whether the budget will pass, many said they were appalled and shocked by the mere premise.

"It's a disaster," said Roger DeForges, a history professor. "Public libraries are the foundation of democracy. If we truly support democracy, how can we shut them down?"

Bobinski said she urges concerned students to write letters to their local legislators and to visit the Erie County Public Library Website at www.buffalolib.org.

"In the entire nation, this has never happened to any other public library. It's absurd," Bobinski said. "It would be such a black mark in Erie County. The politicians would be forever known for closing all the libraries."