Judith’s Reading Room promotes “Freedom Through Literature” by providing custom libraries to not-for-profit organizations that serve people who, for any reason, have limited or no access to literature.
We want our individually-prepared libraries to be a universal symbol representing the ideal that every person around the world deserves access to literature, which has the power to transport and transform.
Judith’s Reading Room, established in 2010, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania. Based in eastern Pennsylvania, Judith’s Reading Room will endeavor to serve, in particular, that region. In addition, Judith’s Reading Room actively supports global organizations; including military wounded who are recuperating from their injuries, as well as active-duty military men and women serving overseas.
Judith’s Reading Room was established in 2010 in memory of Judith F. Krug, first cousin to the founders of Judith’s Reading Room. Judy was the Director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation.
Judith F. Krug was a champion of the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech. She believed that no one has the right to tell other people what they can or cannot read. In 1982, during one of the nation’s periodic censorship epidemics, Judy founded Banned Books Week, a celebration of authors, their literature and the Constitution’s protection of free speech.The founders are also motivated in the creation of Judith’s Reading Room in honor of Irving L. Leiber and Jon Leiber. Father (and father-in-law) and brother (and brother-in-law) of the founders who, for different medical reasons, temporarily or permanently resided within an institutional environment, such as the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, and for whom reading material was or is essential to their well-being.
The following members constitute the all-volunteer Board of Directors:
- Cathy L. Leiber, President
- Scott Leiber, Treasurer
- Leora Hornick, Secretary
- Linda M. Wellstein, Vice President – International
- Marissa Ackerman
- Chiji Akoma, Ph.D.
- Daniel W. Leiber
- David C. Leiber
- Bernadette Lewis
- Ana Ramirez Luhrs
- Ranjeet Pawar
- Rajendra Pawar
