Protect the library

[Commentary] No one is disputing that difficult decisions have to be made during rough economic times and that full county funding of every cultural organization is unreasonable. Having said that, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library stands out as a community gem, sorely needed by those who are out of work or soon to be unemployed.

This is why it is such a shame that the library is facing a projected shortfall of $6.75 million next year, including a $4 million cut in the system's county funding by County Executive Chris Collins. Someone's got to make the hard decisions and that is the county executive's unpleasant job, but for a system that already shrank to 37 branches from 51 during a local budget crisis a few years ago, it's almost impossible to imagine contracting even more. This is a decision that bears re-evaluating. Plans to deal with the budget crunch include closing to the public the second floor of the Central Library downtown. This move will have an impact on young people who depend upon a Teen Room to give them something to do and keep them off the streets. Also located on the floor is a business and science collections room. The public areas will be consolidated on the first floor.