KEESEVILLE — Every year, WOKO 98.9 “Big Country” and Hannaford receive nominations for 20 Outstanding Women making a difference in Vermont and Northern New York.
Keeseville resident Bryce Dickey nominated Robyn Pray, the director of the Keeseville Free Library located at 1721 Front St.
In her nomination letter, Dickey wrote:
“As director of the Keeseville Free Library, Robyn Pray has created a library that not only lends books, but also serves as a vibrant community center. From June 2023, when she started her role, she established a safe space where people gather for numerous events, programs and education, or simply for the support she offers. Just a few of the ongoing programs that thrive at the library include adult and teen trivia nights, Technology Tuesdays, children’s story hour, music in the library and mahjong. Other series include stained glass making, writing workshops, childrens art, food and recipe sharing, learning sign language, teen virtual reality sessions and many more. She welcomes a recovery support group for women and GED classes. Robyn started the Artist of the Month series in which the works of local artists are featured and sold. The passion Robyn exerts in her efforts to meet the needs and interests of all community members is clear. The impact of the services of KFL reach well beyond the local community; attendance at the unique programs includes participants from across the Northeast NY region.”
Pray, 52, didn’t know anything about the honor prior to being nominated and celebrated.
“I was chosen as one of those women for 2026. I was just blown away by her nomination letter, honestly, “she said. “I found out about it two weeks ago from an email from WOKO stating that I had been chosen as one of the women, so I had to go to the radio station to do a radio interview with them.
“I found out in an email. I didn’t know anything about it. I was really kind of shocked, to say the least. There will be a celebration on March 25 of all 20 women.”
BACKSTORY
Pray’s background was in social work prior to coming to the library in June 2023.
“Which is a perfect fit for library director in a rural community,” she said. “I took a break from social work to be a stay-at-home mom because my husband worked away. I ran a farm during that time.”
Pray grew up in Au Sable Forks and graduated from Ausable Valley Central School in 1992. Later, at Clinton Community College, she earned an associate’s degree in the arts.
“I became an AmeriCorps member. I was one of the first AmeriCorps group that there was. I worked at CEF Crisis Helpline, so that’s where I really started my social work in the community,” she said.
“After I graduated, I moved out West and I worked as a crisis intervention counselor, program director for Support Inc. in Ely, Nevada. Then, I worked with the state on the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault.”
When Pray relocated back to New York state, she decided to go back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work from SUNY Plattsburgh.
“I went back to finish my social works degree after my kids were starting school, so 2008. I finished in 2010,” she said. “But I was a Boys Scout leader. I’ve always been a giver in my community. I like to be involved in things, especially when it involves my family and my community. I worked with the homeless right after I graduated for a short stint before I was a stay-at-home mom. It was at the ETC, Evergreen Townhouse Community.”
Pray’s trajectory from social work to stay-at-home mom to library director wasn’t a big leap.
“It’s a perfect place for me to give me back to my community. It’s the greatest job ever,” she said.