A new state Senate Select Committee on Libraries, a 19-member panel charged with looking into the future of public libraries in New York, includes North Country Sen. Patty Ritchie.

“Public Libraries play a vital role in rural communities like ours, providing information, education, entertainment and, increasingly, as a resource for people looking to find jobs, and they provide a great value to taxpayers,” Ritchie said.

“I look forward to working to strengthen our libraries and encouraging more Central and Northern New Yorkers to discover their local libraries so that they can be a continued and valued resource for the next generation of New Yorkers and beyond.”

There are 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.

Last year, Ritchie was awarded an “A” rating by New Yorkers for Better Libraries for her efforts on behalf of public libraries, including her work to restore $3 million in library funding that was cut from the state budget.

Ritchie, a Republican from Heuvelton, represents the 48th Senate District, which includes the western half of St. Lawrence County and all of Jefferson and Oswego counties.