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Buffalo & Erie County Public Library facts for kids
| Buffalo & Erie County Public Library | |
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| Country | United States |
| Established | 1835 |
| Location | 1 Lafayette Square Buffalo, New York 14203 |
| Coordinates | 42°53′08″N 78°52′21″W / 42.885503°N 78.87262°W |
| Branches | 37 |
The current building and a plaque commemorating the original Erie County courthouse built on the same parcel
The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is a super cool place to find books and learn new things! It's located in Buffalo, New York, right on Lafayette Square.
The library you see today was built in 1964. Before that, there was an older library building from 1887. Even before that, the spot was home to the Erie County, New York courthouse from 1816 to 1876.
This library started way back in 1835. It was called the Young Men's Association. Famous writer Samuel Langhorne Clemens was a member! He even worked as an editor for a local newspaper, the Buffalo Express, from 1869 to 1871.
Back then, you had to pay to borrow books from the Young Men's Association. But in 1883, they started raising money for a new building. When the new library opened in 1887, it became the Buffalo Public Library. The best part? Everyone could borrow books for free!
The library has some amazing and important collections. One of the most special is the original, handwritten story of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain himself gave it to the library in 1885! They also have the Milestones of Science, which are first editions of books that announced big science discoveries.
Contents
Library Services for Everyone
The library offers special services to different places in Erie County. This helps make sure everyone can enjoy books and learning.
Books for Care Facilities
The Home Branch Library started in 1956. It's located at the Erie County Home. People there can enjoy regular library services. They can also join fun activities like coffee hour and listen to old radio shows.
The library has special tools for people who need them. These include magnifying bars and electronic magnifiers. They also have large print books and audiobooks. If someone can't come to the library, staff bring books right to their room!
Libraries in Correctional Facilities
The library also has branches inside the Erie County Correctional Facility and the Holding Center. These libraries help people who are in these facilities.
The Correctional Facility Library opened in 1986. It was one of the first libraries built right in the center of a correctional facility. It has over 8,000 books for reading and learning. There's also a special section with legal books and computers for legal work.
The Holding Center Library started in 1969. It also offers both general books and legal materials. People can borrow all kinds of books, from exciting adventure stories to religious books.
Cool Special Collections
The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library has many unique collections. These are special groups of materials you won't find just anywhere!
African-American History Center
The Center for Afro-American History and Research is a huge resource. It's the biggest center in Western New York for learning about African-American history. You can find it at the Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Library.
This center has books, old photos, and microfilm. It focuses on original documents about African-American history in Western New York. You can explore records from local groups and personal papers of community leaders.
Resources for People with Disabilities
The library has a special collection for people with disabilities. For those who can't see well, there are talking books and large print books. They also have devices that read text aloud.
For people who have trouble hearing, there's a special video phone. It helps people who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate. The library wants everyone to be able to enjoy reading and learning!
Grosvenor Room: History and Family Trees
The Grosvenor Room is a special part of the Central Library. It opened in 1994. This room brings together lots of materials about family history (genealogy) and local history.
You can find books about family trees and how to research your own. There are also old records, church documents, and military lists. Most items in the Grosvenor Room must stay in the library. This helps protect these important historical documents.
The Amazing Mark Twain Room
The Mark Twain Room at the Central Library is a must-see! It's where you can find the original handwritten story of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Many people think this is one of the greatest American novels ever written.
Mark Twain gave the first half of the story to the library in 1885. He thought the second half was lost! But in 1991, the missing part was found in an old trunk in Los Angeles. It belonged to the family of a library curator who had asked Twain for the manuscript.
In 1992, the library put both halves of the manuscript back together. It was the first time they had been united in over 100 years! This priceless treasure is now proudly displayed in the Mark Twain Room.
The room also has a beautiful old fireplace mantel. It came from the house where Mark Twain lived in Buffalo. You'll also see a painting of Twain and prints from a 1940 edition of Huckleberry Finn. There are hundreds of Twain's books, including many first editions!
Local Library Branches
The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library system has many branches. This means there's probably a library near you! Here are some of the branches:
- Alden (Ewell) Free Library - Alden
- Angola Public Library - Angola
- Amherst Main Library at Audubon - Amherst
- Aurora Town Public Library - East Aurora
- Boston Free Library - Boston
- Central Library - Buffalo
- Clarence Public Library - Clarence
- Amherst Public Library, Clearfield Branch - Williamsville
- Collins Public Library - Collins
- Concord Public Library - Springfield
- Crane Branch Library - Buffalo
- Dudley Branch Library - Buffalo
- East Clinton Branch Library - Buffalo
- Leroy R. Coles, Jr. Branch Library - Buffalo
- Eden Library - Eden
- Amherst Public Library, Eggertsville-Snyder Branch - Snyder
- Elaine M. Panty Branch Library - Buffalo
- Elma Public Library - Elma
- Grand Island Memorial Library - Grand Island
- Hamburg Public Library, Hamburg Branch - Hamburg
- Isaías González-Soto Branch Library - Buffalo
- Town of Tonawanda Public Library, Kenilworth Branch - Buffalo
- Town of Tonawanda Public Library, Kenmore Branch - Kenmore
- Lackawanna Public Library - Lackawanna
- Hamburg Public Library, Lake Shore Branch - Hamburg
- Lancaster Public Library - Lancaster
- Marilla Free Library - Marilla
- Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library - Buffalo
- Newstead Public Library - Akron
- North Collins Library - North Collins
- North Park Branch Library - Buffalo
- Orchard Park Public Library - Orchard Park
- Cheektowaga Public Library, Anna M. Reinstein Memorial Branch - Cheektowaga
- Cheektowaga Public Library, Julia Boyer Reinstein Branch - Cheektowaga
- City of Tonawanda Public Library - City of Tonawanda
- West Seneca Public Library - West Seneca
- Amherst Public Library, Williamsville Branch - Williamsville