Grace Riario

Grace Riario has over twenty-five years of experience working in public, college, and school libraries. In 2019, she was hired as the first Latina to hold the position of Chief Executive Officer of a Library System in New York State - the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) in Middletown, NY. She received an MLIS from Queens College, an MPA from Penn State University, and an advanced certificate in Public Library Administration through Long Island University. She was a member of the leadership team that developed the New York State trustee education curriculum, supported the Trustee Education Legislation, and updated the public library minimum standards that took effect on January 2021. She serves as the chair of the Regents Advisory Council and Public Library System Directors Association. These days, her energy is spent engaging community members on sustainable funding for libraries, digital justice and equity for communities, and promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion among library employees and administrators.