Central (downtown Buffalo)
Welcome to the downtown Central Library!
Central Library Regular/non-holiday/non-emergency hours
Monday & Tuesday: 8 am - 6 pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 8 am - 8 pm
Friday & Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 12 pm - 5 pm
The fully accessible Washington Street doors to enter/exit the building are open
during all library hours. The Washington St. entrance is located across from
Lafayette Square, between Broadway and Clinton Streets.
Important - the Library's Ellicott Street, underpass entrance to the building is open during limited hours: Monday-Friday.
Download This Week @ Central Schedule Here
Coming Up @ Central Library & Online: Jan 31 – Feb 8, 2026
Saturday, January 31 Library open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Literacy Buffalo Niagara Tutor Training. Collections Gallery Conference Room *
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 3D Printer Certification Class. West Room *
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Legendary Kindness Corporation: Grounded in the Wild Seminar. Central Meeting Room
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM New Year Calligraphy Workshop. Grosvenor Room *
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Stitch Circle. Launch Pad MakerSpace
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Pint-sized Picassos. West Room
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Peaceful Playtime. West Room
Sunday, February 1 Library open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Intelli-Fun, Inc. Letter-Sleuth Learning Game. West Room
Monday, February 2 Library open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spectrum Health Anger Management Program. West Room *
Tuesday, February 3 Library open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM WNY Genealogical Society Collection Assistance. Grosvenor Room
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Tiny Tots Storytime. Children's Room
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM It Takes a Village Action Group. Collections Gallery Conference Room *
4:30 PM - 5:50 PM ISUPK Class. Collections Gallery Conference Room
Wednesday, February 4 Library open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Information Table: Every Bottom Covered. Near Children's Room
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Cookbook Club. Central Meeting Room
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Pathways Point Help Desk. Near Children's Room
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Walk-up Tech Help. Near Computers
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Movie Matinee: Loving (2016). Ring of Knowledge
4:15 PM - 6:00 PM NYCLU Teen Activist Project. Collections Gallery Conference Room
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Art Break. West Room
Thursday, February 5 Library open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM Free Tax Assistance: Morning Session. TechKnow Lab *
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM It Takes a Village Action Group. Collections Gallery Conference Room *
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM Free Tax Assistance: Afternoon Session. TechKnow Lab *
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Walk-up Tech Help. Near Computers
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spectrum Health Anger Management Program. West Room *
Friday, February 6 Library open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pathways Point Help Desk. Near Children's Room
3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Teen Advisory Group Meeting. West Room
Saturday, February 7 Library open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Chess Clinic and Club. Central Meeting Room
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Love is Loud, Inc. Luncheon. West Room
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Stitch Circle. Launch Pad MakerSpace
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Dungeons & Dragons. Collections Gallery Conference Room * (registration full)
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Pint-sized Picassos. Children's Room
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Peaceful Playtime. West Room
Sunday, February 8 Library open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
12:00 PM - 4:55 PM WNY Genealogical Society Collection Assistance. Grosvenor Room
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Intelli-Fun, Inc. Letter-Sleuth Learning Game. West Room
Exhibits & Displays: Open during regular Library hours.
AP Gorny: Different from the Rest. Rare Book Room
Buffalo & the Erie Canal: An Enduring Legacy. Ring of Knowledge
Buffalo African American Museum Display. Main Concourse
Christmas from the White House. Buffalo Presidential Center, only open Saturdays 10 AM - 4 PM
Programs denoted with an asterisk (*) are for pre-registered participants only.
Entering the Library:
Everyone must go through a weapon detection system to enter the Library.
The Washington St. entrance is open during all Library hours. The Ellicott St. open hours are varied. The Clinton St. entrance is only open for Auditorium programs.
Programs denoted with an asterisk (*) are for pre-registered participants only.
Entering the Library:
Everyone must go through a weapon detection system to enter the Library.
The Washington St. entrance is open during all Library hours. The Ellicott St. open hours are varied. The Clinton St. entrance is only open for Auditorium programs.
We want to hear from you.
The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is exploring how future interior improvements @ the downtown Central Library can better meet the needs of Erie County residents.
Attend an online public engagement session on Wed., Nov 5 @ 7 p.m. via Zoom: https://bl.buffalolib.org/CEN-Zoom. To learn more visit: https://bl.buffalolib.org/CEN-Study
See the brochure here:
https://tinyurl.com/TBNCentral
Imagining Buffalo Niagara in the 21st Century
A lecture/discussion series held every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.
This program runs virtually on Zoom.
Calendar of programs.
Discussions are hosted by program founder Dennis Galucki. Call the Library for details about the speaker schedule, which is subject to change. 716-858-8900.
IMAGINE Buffalo is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Art, Architecture, History and Nature (C-SAAHN) in conjunction with the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
Archive of past IMAGINE Buffalo zoom programs beginning in Fall 2020.
Mason Winfield guest on the IMAGINE Buffalo program (audio) October 28, 2025 Mason Winfield guest on the IMAGINE Buffalo program (slides) October 28, 2025
Visit the Teens page for more information about middle school to high school age events and resources - www.BuffaloLib.org/Services/teens