COLUMBIA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Heermance Memorial Library in Coxsackie and the Hudson Area Association Library in Hudson have been awarded grants for their Big Read reading program.

The grants provide funds for the library to purchase classic books and educational materials to encourage literacy and community participation.

Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand announcing the grants, which are awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, saying "instilling a love of reading is critical for the development of our children and our communities."