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Baltimore Library To Receive National Leadership Award

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Enoch Pratt Free Library at Pennsylvania and North avenues in West Baltimore will receive a national leadership award for providing residents a safe haven during days of civil unrest after the death of Freddie Gray.

The library is the first recipient of Tech Logic's People First award, presented by US. Rep. Nancy Pelosi and American Library Association President Courtney Young.

The library is receiving the award for remaining open during the April 27 riots, which were centralized at the intersection just outside the library's doors.

Branch manager Melanie Townsend-Diggs, who opted to stay open throughout the civil unrest, said she felt a responsibility on that day to keep members of the community safe.

The award will be presented at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on Friday.

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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