Buffalo & Erie County Public Library

Spooky Library party flyer. Sat., Oct 18, from. 1 - 4.

The Spooky Library Party is almost here! Join us on Sat., Oct. 18 for trick or treating, games, crafts, and The Super Hilarious Magic Show by Nick Mambretti! The event runs 1:00 - 4:00 pm with Magician Nick Mambretti taking the stage at 3pm!"

Every day, books drive breakthroughs at your Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

Support this mission by joining us for our annual Books, Bites & Banter Happy Hour fundraiser on Tue., Oct. 21 from 5-7 pm at Big Ditch Brewing Co!

Get tickets: bl.buffalolib.org/Bites-2025

Seconds a John Frankenheimer film starring Rock Hudson

I discovered my local @buffalolibrary.bsky.social has an extensive collection of Criterion Collection films. I’ve let most of the streaming services go. Amazon Prime was the last to go. I’d forgotten how great DVDs are with commentaries and trailers.

From the American Library Association archives...

Library work - the profession on which all other professions and occupations depend!

#ThrowbackThursday

The novel’s timeless themes, including the power of individual thought & expression, continue to resonate today.

We are proud to display John’s personal collection at the Central Library as a tribute to his memory & a reminder of the vital importance of access to all books.

For our former director John Spears, intellectual freedom was at the very heart of librarianship. He believed that few books explore its importance as powerfully as 1984. During his travels, he began collecting editions from around the world, each in its original language.

Humanities Festival program.

Humanities Festival opening photo

Humanities Festival photo with speaker

The Library welcomes the Buffalo Humanities Festival today, Sat., Sept 20.

Erie County is Hiring! Erie County, ECMC, SUNY Erie and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library are hiring for various positions.

Learn more about the available positions and begin down a path towards a new career with the Erie County family of employers: www3.erie.gov/employment/j...

Celebrating the Life of Library Director John Spears

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
Downtown Central Library • Auditorium
1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY

The celebration will also be live streamed via Zoom: bl.buffalolib.org/SpearsAug20

Buffalo is Spinning it Forward! New drop today. We ALSO have cool new friends in the effort - BTPM TheBridge!

Today's tunes include:

Sweet Dreams / Angel Olsen
Take You On A Cruise / Interpol
Hard Luck Karma / Handsome Jack
Time (You and I) / Khruangbin

#SpinItForward

(Music by Handsome Jack)

[Buffalo & Erie County Public Library logo] INDIE AUTHOR DAY! We're looking for local writers, booksellers, editors, literary agents, illustrators, influencers, and other creative partners to be part of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library's Indie Author Day 2025 on November 15, 2025. Submit your program idea by August 31 to be considered. All genres, backgrounds, and levels of experience are welcome to apply. Profoundly PUBLIC [Library slogan]

Call for submissions for Buffalo & Erie County Library's Indie Author Day 2025 on Saturday, November 15 & additional literary programming throughout November. Deadline to apply: Sunday, August 31. BL.BuffaloLib.org/IAD2025Proposals

#IndieAuthorDay #IndieAuthors #ReadLocal #BookLover #Writing

Join us for a very special storytime featuring author and Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford on Monday, August 25 at the Crane Branch Library! Storytime starts at 11:30 a.m. and will feature his book “Stylish Safari: The Adventures of Being You.”

Earlier this week, the Library officially celebrated the opening of the Western New York Digitization Center at the Central Library, a major milestone in our commitment to preserving and sharing local history.

Learn more: www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/western-new-...

We’re excited to kick off the Library's #SpinItForward effort with “The Villain” by @malblum.bsky.social, who’s performing tonight at Babeville! Check them out this evening, then (soon) check out their vinyl record from the stacks!

#SpinItForward invites you to shop a local independent record store, purchase any new or gently-used record after 1989 & drop off your donation at any one of our libraries in Erie County. Like a book donation, donating a new record puts inspiration in the hands of our neighbors!

In honor of National Vinyl Record Day (8/12), the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is launching SPIN IT FORWARD – an ongoing effort to revitalize our vinyl collection (which hasn’t been replenished since 1989) & an encouragement to shop our amazing independent record stores.

Join us this Thursday, July 31 from 5:30-6:45 pm at the downtown Central Library for Trivia @ the Library! Test your knowledge on categories like Buffalo history, pop culture, science, TV, movies & more! Registration requested but not required. Details: buffalolib.libcal.com/event/14061842

Interim Director Dorinda Darden will continue to manage daily operations of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System until further notice.

Donations in honor of John Spears can be made to the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library's "Freedom to Read" campaign at: bl.buffalolib.org/SpearsMemorial

John leaves behind his partner, Brian Dimit, his father, brother, and sister, and many friends in the library, Elmwood neighborhood and the Buffalo Quaker communities.

A public Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

He was also an active member, advocating for library funding and resources, through speaking engagements and published articles for @wnylrc.bsky.social, @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social, Library Leadership and Management Association, NYLA, @ifla.org and Public Libraries Magazine.

In 2024, Director Spears was honored by the New York Library Association (NYLA) for innovative leadership in fostering relationships with all sectors of the community and libraries.

John Spears will best be remembered for his leadership in advocating to protect intellectual freedoms. He was known for taking a prominent stance in encouraging funding for libraries to continue to provide free, equal, and equitable access to information for everyone.

John Spears was appointed Library Director in Buffalo in April 2022 following a national search. He brought with him more than 25 years of library management experience having worked in libraries in Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, and Utah.

It is with great sadness that the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System announces the passing of Library Director John Spears following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 51.

[Buffalo & Erie County Public Library logo] INDIE AUTHOR DAY! We're looking for local writers, booksellers, editors, literary agents, illustrators, influencers, and other creative partners to be part of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library's Indie Author Day 2025 on November 15, 2025. Submit your program idea by August 31 to be considered. All genres, backgrounds, and levels of experience are welcome to apply. Profoundly PUBLIC [Library slogan]

Call for submissions for Buffalo & Erie County Library's Indie Author Day 2025 on Saturday, November 15 & additional literary programming throughout November. Deadline to apply: Sunday, August 31. BL.BuffaloLib.org/IAD2025Proposals

#IndieAuthorDay #IndieAuthors #ReadLocal #BookLover #Writing

#Give716 kicks off tonight at 7:16 pm!

Support your neighbors and take part in this day of giving hosted by the Bills & Sabres foundations. Your donation to the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library can make a huge difference in our community!

bl.buffalolib.org/Give2025

Photo of Alex Cousins

Join us this Saturday, July 19 from 1-2 pm at the downtown Central Library for "The Bowed Revolution," a 60-minute multimedia lecture & performance tracing the evolution of bowed string instruments!

Free & open to the public, for all ages.

www.facebook.com/events/14367...

#Give716 kicks off tomorrow night!

By donating to the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, you're investing in one of WNY’s oldest & most trusted public institutions. We've also got some pretty sweet incentives - check it out, then make your tax-deductible donation here: bl.buffalolib.org/Give2025