SANDY CREEK, NY — The Annie Porter Ainsworth Memorial Library celebrated its 90th Anniversary and was recently acknowledged as the first Library to receive the New York State Senate Empire Award!
At a recent visit to the Annie P. Ainsworth Memorial Library on South Main Street in Sandy Creek, State Senator Patty Ritchie presented the Library with the New York State Senate “Empire Award” for its outstanding contributions and dedication to the growth, prosperity and betterment of their community and New York State.
“The Library staff, board, and I are truly honored to have our Library selected as the first library recipient of the Empire Award by Senator Ritchie,” said Director Jessica Godfrey.
“Senator Ritchie’s advocacy for libraries has been a boon for the Annie Porter Ainsworth Memorial Library. The presentation of this award is recognition of not only the library’s efforts in our greater community but also the stake we have in our communities’ continued growth and improvement,” said Jim Horth, President of the Library Board of Trustees.
Annie P. Ainsworth Memorial Library celebrated its 90th Anniversary in October. It first opened on October 25, 1928, after a generous donation from the Honorable Danforth E. Ainsworth. The Library was dedicated to his late beloved wife, Annie Porter Ainsworth, and opened one year after his passing.
Today, the Library offers the community eleven public computers, print, scan and fax services, as well as e-Book & audiobooks. Even the youngest of patrons, children ages 2-9, have free access to two iPads which allow them to play educational games while visiting the Library. In addition, the Library hosts over a hundred free programs every year varying from movies, crafts, arts, music, Summer Reading, and Little Readers Weekly Storytime. The Library has an average of 10,000 visitors per year. It has increased checkouts by over 57% in the past three years, which led to being presented with the 2017 Most Improved Library Award by the North Country Library System.
