Check it Out: Ritchie Announces More Than $135,000 To Help Support Local Libraries, Improve Opportunities For Learning

In an effort to enhance the services provided by local libraries, State Senator Patty Ritchie is announcing she has secured $137,000 in special funding that will benefit 32 libraries in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties and two library networks serving local communities, as well as help to increase the number of “Little Libraries” throughout Central and Northern New York.

“Our libraries play a vital role in communities throughout Central and Northern New York, offering patrons more than just a place to access books,” said Senator Ritchie.  “They are community hubs that provide excellent resources for everyone from job-seekers and researchers to children and families. This funding will enable our libraries to continue to improve services and opportunities for countless people throughout our region.”

Funding secured by Senator Ritchie will help libraries with costs associated with construction projects, technology upgrades, as well as with purchasing books and other necessary supplies.  In addition, a portion of funds will go toward the building of “Little Libraries.”

To be placed throughout Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties, the small wooden boxes—which will be built by students at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES and Oswego County CiTi—will offer increased opportunities for accessing books.  Recently, Little Libraries built by students at St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES and made possible through funding secured by Senator Ritchie were installed throughout the City of Ogdensburg. 

“We appreciate and thank Senator Ritchie for her continued support, allowing our small libraries to move forward with improving the services that their patrons find so very valuable,” said John Hammond, Executive Director of the Northern New York Library Network.

“Budget constraints often limit the ability of our public libraries to purchase new books, offer expanded programming or move forward with capital improvements,” said Stephen Bolton, Director of the North Country Library System.  “We appreciate Senator Ritchie’s help in obtaining this funding, allowing our libraries to build upon the myriad of services they provide.”

 Libraries and library systems receiving special funding are as follows:

Jefferson County

Adams Center Free Library

Adams Free Library

Brownville-Glen Park Library Association

Cape Vincent Community Library

Crosby Public Library

East Hounsfield Free Library

Ellisburg Free Library

Evans Mills Public Library

Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library

Hawn Memorial Library

Hay Memorial Library

Henderson Free Library

Macsherry Library

Mannsville Free Library

Philomathean Free Library

Rodman Public Library

Theresa Free Library

Thousand Island Park Library

Oswego County

Annie Porter Ainsworth Memorial Library

Central Square Library

Cogswell Free Library

Fulton Public Library

Hannibal Free Library

Parish Public Library

Phoenix Public Library

Pulaski Public Library

Williamstown Library

St. Lawrence County

Canton Free Library

Hepburn Library of Edwards

Heuvelton Free Library

Morley Library

Rensselaer Falls Public Library

Senator Ritchie also secured grants of $5,000 each for the Northern New York Library Network and the North Country Library System, part of which will be used to help build Little Libraries. In addition, $10,000 has been awarded to St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES and Jefferson-Lewis BOCES to have students construct Little Libraries.

As a member of the State Senate Select Committee on Libraries, Senator Ritchie has been working to increase funding for libraries across New York State in an effort to ensure they can continue to provide educational opportunities, books and technology.  Since 2012, she has successfully advocated for an increase of $18 million in state budget funding for public libraries, as well as secured more than $475,000 in special funding benefitting dozens of local libraries across Central and Northern New York.

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

(Attn. photo editors: Senator Ritchie is pictured in the above photo with Library Board of Trustees members Jane Sharpe, Mary Chatterton, Dick Bushnell, Aden Sharpe, Library Director Margaret McKay and Adams Mayor Philip Chatterton. The group is pictured under a new sign, which was purchased with funding secured by the Senator.)