Ritchie Gets an ‘A’ From New Yorkers for Better Libraries

Group Ranks State Lawmakers on Support for Library Specific Legislation

State Senator Patty Ritchie has received an ‘A’ in a ranking of state lawmakers by New Yorkers for Better Libraries. 

In the rankings, members of the Assembly and Senate were awarded a grade based upon their support for library specific legislation. This is the second consecutive year that Senator Ritchie received an ‘A’ from New Yorkers for Better Libraries. 

“Public libraries play a very important role in our communities—especially here in the rural areas of upstate New York” Said Senator Ritchie, who is also a member of the Senate Select Committee on Libraries; a group charged with looking into the future of public libraries in New York State. 

“I am happy to support legislation that can strengthen our state’s libraries and help them grow.  From providing information to entertainment to giving people resources to help with job searches, our libraries are a great value to taxpayers that need to be invested in.”

Senator Ritchie has been a strong supporter of libraries since she took office and this year, she was able to help secure $4 million in general aid for libraries; a 3.3 percent increase over last year’s level. 

There are over 7,000 public libraries in New York State, including over 50 public libraries in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties—one of the largest concentrations of public libraries in any Senate district in the state.