CLAYTON --At its recent Annual Meeting, held at the 1000 Island Harbor Hotel in Clayton, the North Country Library System (NCLS) presented Massena Public Library Director Krista Briggs with the Commitment to Community Award.

The citation specifying her accomplishments was read to the large audience by NCLS Library Consultant Matt Corey and written by NCLS Library Consultant Katie St. Laurent. It reads as follows:

(The award) “goes to a library that leverages partnerships to bring the world to their patrons, with a special emphasis on seniors, people with disabilities, and people who are economically disadvantaged. They provide space for their partners to offer everything from chair yoga to workshops on topics including hospice and end of life, Medicare, scam prevention and diabetes management. They work with their Chamber of Commerce, regional health organization and vocational rehabilitation to support entrepreneurs and to ensure that people with disabilities are fully included in the life of the library. They have become an Open Doors Certified library with Encompass Recreation, signaling to families that they will be welcomed and accommodated regardless of their individual differences and needs. They have taken the (NCLS) CareKits program and run with it, not only supplementing the bags provided by NCLS, but extending the program by committing significant funding to create their own bags. For being the driving force and advocate for all of this, we would like to present the Commitment to Community award to Krista Briggs of Massena Public Library.”

In addition to the Briggs’ award, the President of the Massena Public Library Board was cited as follows: "Joseph Savoca is an incredible advocate for the Massena Public Library and, given many of the adverse circumstances they faced, it is our honor to recognize him as this year's Librarian Champion," said Corey.