Author: jrrtestadmin

Congratulations to Christopher Dew

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Christopher Dew with Cathy and Scott Leiber

Christopher Dew with Cathy and Scott Leiber

Christopher Dew and Lisa Boscola, PA State Senator

Christopher Dew and Lisa Boscola, PA State Senator

Judith’s Reading Room VOLUNTEER, Christopher Dew, received his Eagle Scout award today. His project, establishing a library at Lehigh Valley H. O. P. E., was inspired by his volunteer work at Judith’s Reading Room. Lisa Boscola, PA STATE SENATOR, honored his achievement.

Christopher Dew, one of just 4% of all scouts who achieve the hard-earned Eagle Scout designation.

Christopher Dew

Christopher Dew

Christopher Dew Troup 312 South Mountain District Eagle Application Cover

Christopher Dew Eagle Application Cover

International Day of the Book – Resita City, Romania

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Dominique Zara, municipal librarian in Resita City, Romania celebrated the International Day of the book and the Day of English that took place on April 23 this year. Some children at daycare centers in the city who implemented hours of English came to the Judith’s Reading Room liInternational Day of The Bookbrary to read together andInternational Day of The Book enjoy the beautiful books.

“I attached some pictures from our activities. I was happy to had some teenage volunteers participate in this acționează. They were from Italy, Belgia and Spain. They come in our town for 1 year and they wanted to come to our library to assist in Celebrating The International Day of the book.”

On September 8, 2014, UNESCO’s International Literacy Day, five libraries were dedicated in Resita City, Romania. The five libraries, one of which is named the Judith’s Reading Room Library, serves 70,000 residents. The request from municipal librarian, Dominique Zara, is for a total of 6,000-7,000 books, including books to teach English to city politicians. Her goal with respect to that audience is to demonstrate that a library is an indispensable asset in a city and that librarians can do great things for all citizens.

Dominique is a librarian who Walks the Talk, Read more librarian-walks-the-talk

International Day of The BookResita-Group 2

Celebrating English Language in Resita City, Romania

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Cathy Leiber and Kimberly Bush made a short video sending a message to Dominique Zara, municipal librarian in Resita City, Romania in honor of International Day of the Book.

Dominique celebrated the International day of the book and the Day of English that takes place on April 23 this year. Some children at daycare centers in the city who implemented hours of English came to the Judith’s Reading Room library to read together and enjoy the beautiful books.

On September 8, 2014, UNESCO’s International Literacy Day, five libraries were dedicated in Resita City, Romania. The five libraries, one of which is named the Judith’s Reading Room Library, serves 70,000 residents. The request from municipal librarian, Dominique Zara, is for a total of 6,000-7,000 books, including books to teach English to city politicians. Her goal with respect to that audience is to demonstrate that a library is an indispensable asset in a city and that librarians can do great things for all citizens.

Dominique is a librarian who Walks the Talk, Read more http://www.judithsreadingroom.org/librarian-walks-the-talk/

96th Library-Mexico joins 18 other countries

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Judith’s Reading Room Expands Globally with       Announcement of its 96th Library

Mexico joins 18 other countries to open a Judith’s Reading Room Library

April 16, 2018 — Lehigh Valley, Pa.  Judith’s Reading Room, a non-profit organization founded in 2010 to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy announced today the opening of its 96th library in its 19th country with The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, Mexico. 
The Palapa Society of Todos Santos is a non-profit whose mission is to create prepared 21st Century learners.  The organization was a 2017 Judith’s Reading Room Freedom Through Literacy Award winner and received a check in the amount of $500.  With that, they purchased approximately 50 children’s books in English and Spanish including BFG by Roald Dahl and Frida by Jonah Winter.   
The effort to teach English at the Biblioteca Infantil (Children’s Library) is to counter the low level of household literacy and reading habits in the Todos Santos community.  Compounding the problem is that local public schools do not have libraries nor do the classrooms contain books outside of textbooks.  The Palapa Society aims to change all that through the collaboration with Judith’s Reading Room.  Joy O’Brien, Program Director of The Palapa Children’s Library said “ the 162 ‘library enthusiasts’ were waiting to get their hands on the new books donated by Judith’s Reading Room. “ 
The 2018 Judith’s Reading Room Freedom Through Literacy Award application process is underway.  The 2018 Award will grant $4,500 in prizes.  The deadline to apply at www.JudithsReadingRoom.org/APPLY is July 6, 2018.  Since its inception, Judith’s Reading Room has dedicated 96 libraries in 19 countries with 127,679 books worth nearly $1.4 million dollars.  The Freedom Through Literacy Award has disbursed $24,500 and has honored 19 individual champions of literacy in the United States, the Philippines, Bhutan, Pakistan, Rwanda, Cambodia and Mexico. 

From The Palapa Society of Todos Santos

Por fin or finally as we say in English! Here is a foto of a few of our 162 “card-carrying” library enthusiasts waiting eagerly to get their hands on the new books donated by Judith’s Reading Room. Just as there are only a very few of the kids in the foto, it is also only a portion of the books that were purchased with your generous donation. The others flew off the shelves before the foto could be made. Not a day goes by that one of the books that Judith’s Reading Room purchased is not being checked out for the enjoyment of our kids. We can’t thank you enough….
Joy O’Brien, Program Director of the Palapa Children’s Library (Biblioteca Infantil), Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

2018 Freedom Through Literacy Press Release

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NEWS RELEASE  
CONTACT:  Cathy Leiber
484-661-6151
Judith’s Reading Room Announces Its 2018 “Freedom Through Literacy” Award

Changes to the 2018 Award will encourage teachers, librarians, and authors

January 29, 2018 — Lehigh Valley, Pa.  Judith’s Reading Room, a non-profit literacy organization founded in 2010, is currently accepting applications for its 2018 “Freedom Through Literacy” Award.  Changes to the 2018 Award will encourage  teachers, librarians and authors both here and around the world.

The 4th annual “Freedom Through Literacy” Award, the signature element of Judith’s Reading Room, will honor a Top Prize winner with $3,000 cash.  The “Judith’s Award,” a new prize category, in the amount of $500, is designed exclusively for teachers, librarians and authors.  They are also eligible to win the Top Prize.  

A second new prize is announced today:  Prize totals vary — up to a total of $1,000 — Board members will nominate, on a rolling basis, champions of literacy.  Called
“Board Option” this prize engages board members to be “on the lookout,” constantly, for exemplary individuals whose work instills in others a love of reading. 

Applications for the 2018 “Freedom Through Literacy” Award are available on line at www.JudithsReadingRoom.org/APPLY.  Anyone working in the field of literacy — teachers, librarians, authors, educators, booksellers — is encouraged to apply.  Deadline for Applications: July 6, 2018.  

Since its inception in 2010,  Judith’s Reading Room has dedicated 95 libraries in 18 countries with over 127,000 books valued at nearly $1.4 million dollars.  Since 2015, $24,500 cash has been awarded to winners of the “Freedom Through Literacy” Award.

Por fin or finally as we say in English! Here is a foto of a few of our 162 “card-carrying” library enthusiasts waiting eagerly to get their hands on the new books donated by Judith’s Reading Room. Just as there are only a very few of the kids in the foto, it is also only a portion of the books that were purchased with your generous donation. The others flew off the shelves before the foto could be made. Not a day goes by that one of the books that Judith’s Reading Room purchased is not being checked out for the enjoyment of our kids. We can’t thank you enough….
Joy O’Brien, Program Director of the Palapa Children’s Library (Biblioteca Infantil), Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Children at Anjali House, Cambodia

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A new photo of children using our books at Anjali House, Cambodia.

Anjali House is a local NGO that is supporting 120 students and their families through education, basic care and the arts. All the children and young adults from 5 to 19 years old come from impoverished families who can’t afford the cost of education and most of the time can only provide a meal a day.

Here is a lshort video that introduces Anjali House

TOP PRIZE WINNER- 2017 Freedom Through Literacy Award

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National Book Foundation, New York, for their 10 year old literacy project titled, “BookUp.” BookUp is a reading program that serves more than 500 middle school aged children, older teens and young adults, led by published writers in four states. Students discuss quality literature in a book club format, go on field trips to cultural institutions and receive free books to build their home libraries. The Top Prize award is valued at $3,000.  Visit National Book Foundation

2017 Freedom Through Literacy Award Winners Announced

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pastedGraphic.png NEWS RELEASE  
CONTACT:  Cathy Leiber
484-661-6151

2017 Freedom Through Literacy Award Winners Announced

July 24, 2017 — Lehigh Valley, Pa. — Judith’s Reading Room proudly announces this year’s Top Prize winner of its 3rd annual Freedom Through Literacy Award is Lisa Lucas, National Book Foundation, New York, for their 10 year old literacy project titled, “BookUp.” BookUp is a reading program that serves more than 500 middle school aged children, older teens and young adults, led by published writers in four states. Students discuss quality literature in a book club format, go on field trips to cultural institutions and receive free books to build their home libraries. The Top Prize award is valued at $3,000.

William Whipple, Easton, Pa, will receive $1,000 for his passionate work with TEACH Rwanda and its project called, “Stories in Kinyarwanda.” Children’s literature in Rwanda is an emerging endeavor and TEACH Rwanda is determined to improve the quality and accessibility of culturally genuine, captivating Rwandan literature for young children. TEACH Rwanda was also a Runner-Up in 2016.

This year’s Honorable Mention is awarded to The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, Mexico. Founded in 2003, this grassroots nonprofit promotes the “love of reading” and bringing literacy to communities without the means or access to books given their high cost and limited availability in Mexico. To support their children’s library, Judith’s Reading Room will purchase $500 worth of new books.

Judith’s Reading Room, a literacy nonprofit based in the Lehigh Valley, Pa, was founded in 2010 in memory of Judith Krug, first cousin to the founders. Judy, a librarian, dedicated her 40 year career at the American Library Association to protect the freedom to read. The mission of Judith’s Reading Room is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy. To date, the organization has fulfilled that mission by shipping more than 127,000 books to deployed troops and dedicating 95 libraries in 18 countries with books valued at nearly $1.4 million dollars.

Visit our Freedom Through Literacy Award Page

RUNNER UP – 2017 Freedom Through Literacy Award

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William Whipple, Easton, Pa, will receive $1,000 for his passionate work with TEACH Rwanda and its project called, “Stories in Kinyarwanda.” Children’s literature in Rwanda is an emerging endeavor and TEACH Rwanda is determined to improve the quality and accessibility of culturally genuine, captivating Rwandan literature for young children. TEACH Rwanda was also a Runner-Up in 2016. Visit Teach Rwanda