Sen. Patty Ritchie met recently with members of the North Country Library System and Northern New York Library Network “to discuss ways to work together in an effort to strengthen libraries and expand the resources they provide to patrons,” her office said.

Ritchie was recently named chair of the Senate Select Committee on Libraries, which she has served on since 2012.

“A strong supporter of libraries, Senator Ritchie advocated for a $9 million boost in funding for libraries in the most recent state budget,” according to a prepared statement from Ritchie’s office. “In addition, she recently announced $137,000 in special funding for 32 libraries in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties and two library networks - the North Country Library System and the Northern New York Library Network - that serve local communities.”