Buffalo And Erie County Public Library

Mission Statement

Connecting our diverse community with library resources that enrich, enlighten and entertain.

Vision:

The Vision of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is to be deeply rooted in the community: promoting partnerships, fostering the development of a literate and informed citizenry through free and equal access to cultural, intellectual, recreational and informational resources, planning for the future, and making the most effective use of taxpayer funding.

Values:

Core values represent an organization’s highest priorities, deeply held beliefs, and fundamental driving forces. Core values define what an organization believes and how it resonates both internally and externally.

     Respect

     practice courtesy and civility in our actions and attitudes; value, support and respect all customers and staff

     Integrity

     consistently adhere to honesty, sound principles and strong interpersonal values

     Helpfulness

     provide resources and services with a kindly disposition to meet and exceed user need and maximize user experience

     Teamwork

     combine efforts, celebrate unique talents, and work cooperatively towards the Library’s goals with trust and enthusiasm

     Dependability

     provide reliable, responsible and trustworthy services

     Excellence

     strive for superior performance

About Us:

Extending two city blocks in length, encompassing more than 400,000 square feet of floor space and more than 58 miles of shelving, the Central Library in Lafayette Square in the heart of downtown Buffalo is headquarters of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library system. 

Completed in 1964, this facility houses approximately 2 million volumes, special exhibition rooms for rare and valuable materials like the Mark Twain Room, a host of centralized administrative and support operations for the 37-outlet system, and a 324-seat auditorium with a Steinway grand piano. The auditorium and meeting rooms may be reserved for events.

Public access computers are available for use at no charge. Wireless computer access is available throughout the public areas of the library.