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Central Library (downtown Buffalo)

Central Library (downtown Buffalo)
    Library Info

    1 Lafayette Square
    Buffalo, NY 14203
    United States

    Fax: 716-845-9053

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    Enter the downtown Central Library from any of these accessible entrances:

    • Washington Street entrance, across from Lafayette Square between Clinton and William Streets.
    • Auditorium entrance on Clinton Street, only open when there is an event taking place in the Library Auditorium.

    Directions to Central Library

    1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo NY 14203, 716-858-8900

    All roads lead to the Central Library! The Central Library of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System is conveniently located on Lafayette Square in the heart of downtown Buffalo.

    BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

    The Central Library is one block north of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Bus Terminal. Several bus routes intersect at or near the Library, including the #1 William, #2 Clinton, #4 Broadway, #6 Sycamore and #8 Main routes. In addition, the Evans Bank Station @ Lafayette Square of the NFTA Metro Rail line is one block west of the Washington Street entrance to the Library. Fees for public transit may apply.

    For more information, visit the NFTA Metro website or call 716-855-7211.

    BY AUTOMOBILE

    From the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport or points east, take the Kensington Expressway (Route 33) west into Buffalo. The Expressway empties onto Oak Street. Proceed south to William Street and turn right.

    From the New York State Thruway (Route 90), take Route I-190 to Downtown Buffalo. Exit at Elm Street. Proceed north to William Street and turn left.

    PARKING

    The Library does not own or manage a parking lot.

    Nearby public and paid parking includes:

    • AllPro Parking, located directly across from the library, bordered by Broadway, Washington and Ellicott streets. Lot entrance is on Washington Street. You can enter the library from Washington or Ellicott streets.
    • Pay station/metered public parking, managed by the City of Buffalo, is available on area streets surrounding the library including Oak, Clinton, Washington, William, Ellicott and Broadway. Meters are free on Saturdays and Sundays and after 5 p.m. on weekdays. Fees and hours are subject to change, regulated by the City of Buffalo and not by the Library.
    • The Adam Parking Ramp (managed by Buffalo Civic Auto Ramps) is 2 blocks south of the library along Washington Street. Regular rates apply on weekdays, with parking free after 5 p.m. for the first two hours.

    ACCESSIBLE PARKING

    There are three accessible parking meters located around the Central Library building:

    • Oak Street behind the library (between Broadway and Clinton streets) 
    • William Street (between Ellicott and Oak streets) 
    • Clinton Street (between Ellicott & Oak streets).

    Rates are currently $2.00 per hour, with a maximum of two hours as set by the City of Buffalo. Parking meter rates and parking restrictions are determined by the City of Buffalo and are subject to change. Street parking is enforced from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend parking and evening parking after 5 p.m. is free at meters near the Central Library.

    Meters take quarters, or you can use the pay station on Washington Street, which takes cash or credit cards.

    Parking is enforced around the Central Library building by the Buffalo Police Department.

    For more information on City of Buffalo Parking you can access their Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here.

    PARKING APP

    Buffalo Roam is a mobile app that allows drivers to pay for their parking using their smart phones. The app allows you to pay via credit card, receive alerts when your time is about to expire and extend your parking without running back to feed the meter, among other features. A 10-cent fee applies. This app is not owned or managed by the Library. For more information, click here .

    BIKE RACKS

    The Library has bike racks located at the Washington Street entrance and at the Ellicott Street entrance. Bikes should always be securely locked. The Library is not responsible for lost or stolen bikes or biking equipment such as helmets.

    BARRIER FREE ACCESS

    All library entrances are barrier free.  The Washington Street entrance is open during all regular library hours.  The Ellicott Street entrance closes at 3:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.  Each offers cut-away curbs for wheelchair access. Automatic doors feature controls less than 48" high. Call 716-858-7185 for accessible parking information.

    The Ellicott Street entrance (between William and Clinton Streets) is easiest to enter for vehicle drop-off. This entrance closes at 3:00 p.m. on weekdays. 

    The Auditorium entrance on Clinton Street is also barrier-free. This entrance is only open when there are events in the Auditorium.

    For general information, call 716-858-8900. TDD:  716-842-0051.

    Map of the Central Library
    Book a Library Tour
    Accessibility at Central Library

    About the Central Library

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

    Completed in 1964, this facility houses approximately two million volumes; special exhibition rooms for rare and valuable materials including the Mark Twain Room, the Collections Gallery and the Rare Book Room; a computer training lab; and the Launch Pad MakerSpace; plus a host of centralized administrative and support operations for the entire 37-site Library System. 

    The downtown Central Library has a newly renovated 301-seat fully accessible auditorium, as well as three meeting rooms and other indoor and outdoor spaces that may be reserved for meetings/public programs by non-profit organizations and businesses.  Onsite author visits, children's programming, book clubs, movies and technology classes and demonstrations are regular happenings at the Central Library. For more information visit our calendar page or call 716-858-8900.

    The Central Library offers three private study rooms for individual or small group use. Each study room provides a computer with Microsoft suite software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), internet access and printing capabilities. Study rooms are free to use and will be available during the Central Library’s open hours. Walk-ins are welcome and will be accommodated if a study room is not in use or reserved for use. 

    Reservations can be made in-person at the Computer Reference Desk or by contacting Central Library staff at (716) 858-8900 (option 2 - speak to reference staff).

    For more information, and guidelines regarding study room use please visit the Central Library Study Rooms: Use and Reservation page.

    Black and white copies from a copy machine are available for 15 cents each. Color copies are available for 50 cents each. Public access computers are available. Printing from public access computers  and Mobile Printing is available for 10 cents per black and white page and 25 cents per color page.

    The Library has a fax machine located near Borrower Services by the Washington Street entrance.  Faxing is $1.75 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. 

    New Feature at the Reading Park: What Is This?

    Spirit of Inspiration,” a public art sculpture designed as a new feature of Buffalo’s Reading Park in front of the Central Library near the Washington Street/Broadway corner, is inspired by the life and poetry of Buffalo poet Lucille Clifton.

    The striking sculpture was designed by internationally acclaimed artist Olalekan Jeyifous. It was installed in the Reading Park on October 29, 2022; an official ceremony will take place in Spring 2023. Click here to read more.

    "What can I do at a Public Access Computer?"

    Wireless access is also available throughout the Library on all floors.

    Now on Display at the Central Library
    Meeting Rooms at the Central Library
    Special Collections: Grosvenor Room (Genealogy, Music, Rare Books)
    Mark Twain Room

     

    • Buffalo Branches Board Info

      Library System Information on the Board of Trustees

      The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System Board of Trustees is the governing body for the downtown Central Library, and the eight branch libraries located in the city of Buffalo. These include: Crane, Dudley, East Clinton,  Frank E. Merriweather, Jr., North Park, Elaine M. Panty Branch Library, Isaías González-Soto Branch Library, and the Leroy R. Coles, Jr. Branch Library.

      All System Board of Trustee meetings and committee meetings are open to the public

      To see monthly board meeting schedules, agendas and minutes, click here.