Author: jrrtestadmin

Judith’s Reading Room Inaugurates its 111th Library

  By

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

 Judith’s Reading Room Inaugurates its 111th Library 
at East Harlem’s Acclaimed Mosaic Preparatory Academy

 March 14, 2025  —Judith’s Reading Room announced that it has inaugurated its 111th eponymous library at the prestigious Mosaic Preparatory Academy in East Harlem, New York City that serves 235 scholars, grades 3K-5th grade with a custom collection of 221 mostly STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and animal books.
 
The most studied number in math, Pi, is observed on March 14 since the numbers 3, 1 and 4 are the first three significant digits of Pi.  Judith’s Reading Room heralded the significance of Pi Day by curating a collection of recently published STEM books on  diverse topics like math, physics, robotics, astronomy, architecture and construction. 
 
The entire Fourth Grade attended the ceremony that included heartfelt remarks about the importance of reading by Superintendent Dr. Kristy De La Cruz, Principal Daliz Vasquez and School Librarian Ariel Birdoff.  Students participated by speaking up about what books had grabbed their attention and why.
 
Ms. Birdoff told Judith’s Reading Room that “Mosaic Preparatory Academy’s Library is in need of recently published science and animal books.  Our nonfiction section is more than 10 years old!  It is the oldest collection in our library.” To modernize the STEM section, today’s donation of 221 books with a cover price value of $2,557 includes:  Tinkeractive Math, How the World Works, The Science Collection, Listopia:  Space, Robotpedia, Where the Animals Go:  Tracking Wildlife with Technology,  Encyclopedia of Dogs, ROBOTICS Engineering and OCEAN!

 In addition to becoming a named Judith’s Reading Room library, Mosaic Preparatory Academy is also honored by being included in the organization’s  “15th Anniversary Celebration in 2025.”  In a bold move, the board of directors voted to dedicate up to 15 new or enhanced libraries around the world in 2025.  The libraries stretch across 4 Oceans and 4 Continents.

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The “Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary” — Dedication Dates
  1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — January 7
  2. Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras,’ Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — January 15
  3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y,” Toledo, Ohio — February 3 — JRR Library #109
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, MS  — February 15 — JRR Library #110
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14 — JRR Library #111
  7. Louisiana United Methodist Children & Family Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Washington Co. Residential Center’s ‘Harkins House,’ Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBA
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBA
  14. Janata Adharbhut Vidhyalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBA

Mosaic Preparatory Academy & Judith’s Reading Room have a long history.  Judith’s Reading Room has supported various initiatives at MPA since 2021 when it donated 98 books to celebrate its “Book Vending Machine” dedication.  Later that year, the organization donated 240 copies of celebrated author Ty Allan Jackson’s Danny Dollar Millionaire books and sponsored his appearance at the school.  In 2022, Judith’s Reading Room honored its retired and beloved principal, Dr. Lisette Caesar with the organization’s inaugural “Literacy Chair Award.”  In 2023, the organization supplemented the Book Vending Machine with an additional 61 books. 

Judith’s Reading Room was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, distinguished librarian and first cousin to the founders who served as Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association for 40 years.
 
Judith’s Reading Room’s mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.  That mission has been fulfilled by establishing 111 libraries (and counting!) in 25 countries with 134,000books donated worth over $1.4 million dollars. To learn more about Judith’s Reading Room, its libraries and awards, please visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.
 
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From: Ariel B
Date: March 14, 2025 at 11:33:44 AM EDT
To: Cathy

Subject: Thank You!

Hello, everyone!
Thank you so much for joining us today for Judith’s Reading Room’s 111th library on 111th street on Pi Day! Today was a truly special event, made possible by Cathy and Scott’s incredible generosity. Thanks to their help, and dedication to literacy, our nonfiction section now has brand new, up-to-date books about science, technology, engineering, arts and math. These books will be an integral part of our students’ future nonfiction projects, as well as the books they choose to read for pleasure. The Mosaic Preparatory Academy Library is a special place, and we are so lucky to be a part of such a strong school and surrounding community. Thank you, Cathy and Scott for being a part of and believing in our wonderful community. I know these books will spark curiosity for years to come.
 
Thank you, Dr. De La Cruz, Ms. Vasquez, and Ms. Wilson for coming. Ms. Mallette and I relish any time we get to talk about books and students. Ms. McNamara, thank you for bringing down one of Mosaic’s most enthusiastic, yet quiet readers… and one my favorite classes (shh, don’t tell).  
 
I am attaching some photos I took from the event. Thank you again, everyone!
**** photos coming soon ****

Jane Goodall Institute Nepal to Receive Children’s Books

  By

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

 Jane Goodall Institute Nepal to Receive a Curated Collection of Children’s Books from Judith’s Reading Room

February 27, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room, the global literacy nonprofit organization based in eastern Pennsylvania announced today that it had reached agreement with The Jane Goodall Institute Nepal (JGIN) to dedicate the first ever library of children’s books in English to Janata Adharbhut Vidhyalaya, a primary school in the Mahottari District, seven hours by car from Kathmandu, in a rural village near Nepal’s border with India.

Judith’s Reading Room is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2025 and to honor the occasion, the board of directors voted to dedicate or enhance up to 15 libraries around the world.  A life-long friend of the founders, MeeWah Tan of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recommended The Jane Goodall Institute Nepal’s organization as a partner owing to its strong footprint in the rural villages of Nepal with a highly trained staff to oversee the installation of an international library.

“Judith’s Reading Room is proud to collaborate with The Jane Goodall Institute Nepal in support of our mission to “enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.  She added, “We share the same goal with JGIN which is to provide high quality books in English to inspire a lifelong passion for reading.”

The Judith’s Reading Room library at Janata Adharbhut Vidhyalaya will serve 398 children in grades 4-10.  The library will contain a curated list of 578 books that will be purchased locally at a cover price of $2,000.  Some of the titles include:  The Babysitters Club series, Where’s Waldo series, Shakespeare Stories, and Frog and Toad Are Friends.  The dedication date will be announced soon.

So far this year, the organization has inaugurated five libraries as part of its “15 Libraries to Celebrate our 15th Anniversary,” — a bold initiative that stretches across 4 Oceans and 4 Continents.    They include installations in Muhanga, Rwanda; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Toledo, Ohio; Southaven, Mississippi, and Grenada, Mississippi. 

 “Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary in 2025” — Dedication Dates

  1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — January 7
  2. Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras,’ Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — January 15
  3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y,” Toledo, Ohio — February 3 — JRR Library #109
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, MS  — February 15 — JRR Library #110
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14 — JRR Library #111
  7. Louisiana Methodist Children & Family Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Washington Co. Residential Center’s ‘Harkins House,’ Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBA
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBA
  14. Janata Adharbhut Vidhyalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBA

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 global literacy organization was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders.  Its mission is:  “To enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.”  The organization has fulfilled that mission by establishing to date 111 eponymous libraries in 25 countries and 10 US states with more than 134,000 donated books at a cover price of $1.4 million.

 

Judith’s Reading Room Dedicates its 110th library

  By

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Career Nurse Retires to Open Day Care Center in Mississippi
Only to Find Her Bookshelves Are Empty
Judith’s Reading Room Dedicates its 110th Library

February 15, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room, a nonprofit literacy organization founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to its founders, dedicated its 110th library today at Watch Me Grow Learning Academy in Grenada, Mississippi with 151 brand new children’s books to fill their empty book shelves.

Joyce Edwards, R.N. informs the audience about Judith’s Reading Room.

Joyce Edwards, R.N. informs the audience about Judith’s Reading Room.

The decision to dedicate the 110th library in February is to honor two occasions:  Black History Month and the 15th anniversary of Judith’s Reading Room.  To celebrate its milestone anniversary, the organization declared a bold initiative:  Dedicate brand new or enhance 15 of its existing libraries in 2025.

The hand-picked collection of 151 children’s books at a cover price of $1,437 includes baby board books and picture books for children birth-to-four years of age as well as early literacy books for the older children who flock to Watch Me Grow after school.  Judith’s Reading Room purchased the collection with Edwards’ expansion goal of accommodating 68 children. 

Joyce Edwards, R.N, owner of Watch Me Grow Learning Academy gushes when she describes her life-long dream of having her own business to provide expert day care child services for her community.  She says, “our focus is to educate, empower and equip every student we come in contact with, in a nurturing manner.  As a new day care center, we have many needs and books were one of them.  I am grateful and honored to be in partnership with you all.” Judith’s Reading Room is committed to helping Edwards realize her dream as she expands to capacity.

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Watch Me Grow Learning Academy dedicates Judith’s Reading Room library #110 on Feb. 15 with welcoming speeches, book readings, student recognitions and fun for parents and kids alike! Multiple bookcases will be filled with hand-picked books for children birth to 12 years of age.

Judith’s Reading Room

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 global literacy organization was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders.  Its mission is:  “To enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.”  It has achieved that mission by dedicating 110 libraries (and counting!) in 25 countries (and counting!) with 134,000 books valued at $1.4 million.

Watch Me Grow Learning Academy is the 3rd library established by Judith’s Reading Room in the state of Mississippi.  Previous libraries include:  St. Peter’s AME Church in Tunica and Avery Chapel AME Church in Southaven.  Chosen to be one among the 15 libraries to be dedicated in 2025, Watch Me Grow Learning Academy is the 5th out of 15 libraries dedicated in 2025.

The “15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary”— Dedication Dates

  1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — January 7
  2. Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras,’ Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — January 15
  3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y,” Toledo, Ohio — February 3 (JRR Library #109)
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, Mississippi  — Feb. 15 (JRR Library #110)
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14 (JRR Library #111)
  7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Harkins House, Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBA
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBA
  14. Janata Aadharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBA
  15. Shree Prasad Singh Ma. Vi School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBA

To learn more about each of these 15 libraries, visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.

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Judith’s Reading Room 99th Library Expansion

  By

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Expands its Library at
Avery Chapel AME Church in Southaven, Mississippi 
Rev. Dr. Leoda Topps Credited with Instilling in Kids a Love of Reading

February 15, 2025 — In honor of Black History Month, Judith’s Reading Room announced that it expanded its library at Avery Chapel AME Church in Southaven, Mississippi.  The additional donation of books to our 99th Judith’s Reading Room library is a featured part of the organization’s bold initiative “15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary in 2025.”   For this milestone event, Judith’s Reading Room’s board of directors voted to dedicate 15 new or enhanced eponymous libraries across the globe.  

Today, Avery Chapel AME Church inaugurated its enhanced collection of 103 children’s books with a cover price value of $1,042 that will serve 55 children and members of its suburban community near Memphis, TN.  Rev. Dr. Leoda Topps of Avery Chapel AME Church specifically asked for books for all ages and abilities.   As Dr. Topps put it, “None of the children should be left out.”

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In 2020, Judith’s Reading Room dedicated its 99th named library at Avery Chapel Church with a collection of 73 books. The organization has maintained a close relationship with Pastor Topps ever since.  A Ph.D. in Education, she tutors children after school with their homework and spends time reading aloud.  She says that many children come from single parent homes with multiple children and the mom doesn’t get to spend time reading with her children.  This is where she, Dr. Topps, steps in and is credited with instilling in children a love of reading.

“Judith’s Reading Room is focused on donating books around the world that feature diverse characters and relatable stories that help children see themselves in a positive light,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.  Adding, “ Pastor Topps is a perfect example of a community librarian:  she connects her community to the power of knowledge and imagination through books and she steadfastly believes that an empowered and literate community is a healthy community.  Dr. Topps is a local hero.”

15 Libraries to Celebrate Organization’s 15th Anniversary in 2025— Dedication Dates

  1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — Dedicated Jan. 7 
  2. Escuela Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — Dedicated Jan. 15
  3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y”, Toledo, Ohio — Dedicated Feb. 3 – JRR Library #109
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — Dedicated Feb. 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, MS — Dedicated Feb. 15 – JRR Library #110
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York – March 14 – JRR Library #111
  7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana – April 1
  8. Washington County Juvenile Detention Center, Harkins House, Portland, Oregon – April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland – May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York – July 31
  11. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBA
  12. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBA
  13. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona – November 1
  14. Janata Aadharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBA
  15. Shree Prasad Singh Ma. Vi School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBA

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 global literacy organization was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders.  Its mission is:  To enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.”  The organization has met its mission by establishing to date 110 eponymous libraries in 25 countries and 10 US states with more than 134,000 donated books at a cover price of $1.4 million.

To learn more about Judith’s Reading Room libraries, visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.

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Judith’s Reading Room Dedicates its 109th library

  By

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Dedicates its 109th library
Collection Advances Mentorship Program in Toledo, Ohio

February 3, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room, a nonprofit literacy organization based in eastern Pennsylvania announced today that it inaugurated its 109th library In collaboration with Read for Literacy’s Real Men READ-y mentorship program in Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Romulus Durant, Superintendent for Toledo Public Schools urged the students to strive for success through reading at the MLK Academy for Boys celebration.

The 109th library is a distinguished part of Judith’s Reading Room’s 15th anniversary celebration, “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025” that includes new or enhanced Judith’s Reading Room libraries on 4 continents, spanning 4 oceans and serving thousands of kids.

The collection of 88 books with a cover price of $1,205 was curated by award-winning children’s author Ty Allan Jackson and includes Caldecott Medal and Newbery Award winners — all chosen to ignite the imagination of kindergarten Black boys who are mentored in reading on a weekly basis. A sample of book titles includes: Alexander’s The Undefeated, De La Pena’s Last Stop on Market Street, and Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are.

Under the direction of Diana Bush, Executive Director, Read for Literacy, the Real Men READ-y program pairs African American professional men with Black boys in kindergarten. The MEN-tors visit schools each week and read aloud with the children one-on-one. The program seeks to improve literacy rates and, more important, it provides positive male MEN-tors for young Black boys.

Children from low-income families start kindergarten with a distinct disadvantage when it comes to reading, vocabulary and comprehension. The 1995 seminal study by Hart & Risley found that kids from low-income families are exposed to approximately 30 million fewer words by age 3 compared to kids from mid- or high-income families. Compounding the problem is that low-income families are less likely to engage their children in conversations that use complex vocabulary as compared with mid-income families.

“The Real Men READ-y program aims to create equal opportunities for all children by offering books that promote rhyming, alliteration, and vocabulary development through the training of MEN-tors who read aloud to the children, and by gifting books to help them start their first home libraries. The program fosters a love of reading and empowers young minds,” said Diana Bush.

In addition to providing outstanding literature for the Real Men READ-y program, Judith’s Reading Room will sponsor two “Book of the Month” selections where children master reading a book over the course of a month and then are invited to take the book home for “keeps.” The two books selected by Judith’s Reading Room are Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day and Ty Allan Jackson’s Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire ‘The Lemonade Escapade.‘

Ty Allan Jackson, award-winning children’s book author and literacy advocate, first came to the attention of Judith’s Reading Room in 2020 when he won the organization’s ‘Freedom Through Literacy’ Judith’s Award and then again in 2023 when he won the organization’s ‘Freedom Through Literacy’ Grand Prize Award for his Danny Dollar Entrepreneur Fair. At today’s inauguration, Jackson urged the young boys to become “soldiers of reading.”

Ty Jackson & Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room, in conversation

 

Award winning children’s author, Ty Allan Jackson curated the collection for Real Men READ-y

Award winning children’s author, Ty Allan Jackson curated the collection for Real Men READ-y

Cathy: Tell me how you approached the project of selecting a dynamic collection of books for young Black boys in Toledo, Ohio?

Ty: When I was asked to curate the Judith’s Reading Room library for Toledo’s Real Men READ-y program, my first thought was to make sure not every book was a ‘black book.’ “My love of reading grew from books I wasn’t familiar with — that stretched me outside my normal reading — like the classics, technology, stuff about everything, books that have been translated into movies. I chose a colorful palette of books.”

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Judith’s Reading Room

Judith’s Reading Room selected Read for Literacy’s Real Men READ-y Program as part of its bold initiative to dedicate 15 new or enhanced libraries in 2025 in honor of the organization’s “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025.”

The 15 Libraries and their Dedication Dates

1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — January 7
2. Escuela Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — January 15
3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y,” Toledo, Ohio — February 3
4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, Mississippi — February 15
6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14
7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
8. Harkins House, Portland, Oregon — April 4
9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
12. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBD
13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBD
14. Janata Aadharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD
15. Shree Prasad Singh Ma. Vi, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD

The 109th Judith’s Reading Room library was made possible, in part, by a generous contribution from Ohio residents Gene and Mary Jo Hardy who met the organization’s founders, Cathy & Scott Leiber, last summer at Chautauqua Institution. The Hardy’s are also credited with introducing Judith’s Reading Room to Diana Bush, Executive Director, Read for Literacy.

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 global literacy organization was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders. Its mission is: “To enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.” It has achieved that mission by dedicating 109 libraries in 25 countries with nearly 134,000 books donated valued at more than $1.4 million dollars.

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Puerto Vallarta Receives Collection of Bilingual Books

  By

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

School in Puerto Vallarta Receives Collection of Bilingual Books
Introducing bilingual books to Spanish-speaking children is one of the most effective ways to set them on a path to success

January 15, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room announced that its 106th eponymous library, Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras’ in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico received today an expanded collection of bilingual books in honor of the organization’s “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025.”  Principal Ma. Guadalupe Ramirez Lopez requested a collection of bi-lingual books on comprehensive themes including fantasy, values, animals, superheroes and emotions.  

Judith’s Reading Room co-founders Cathy & Scott Leiber inaugurated the hand-picked collection of 52 bilingual books (Spanish-English) with a cover price of $494 today at “Escuela Agustin Flores Contreras” in the heart of this Pacific Ocean resort. The bi-lingual books will deepen the library of 538 books that Judith’s Reading Room donated in February 2024, naming it the organization’s 106th library.

Until February 2024, the public school serving 189 elementary aged children did not have a library. “A whole-community effort including parents, teachers, students, government officials demanded that a library be established at the school so that the children could compete for better jobs in the future,” stated Lopez.  “Judith’s Reading Room stepped in and established our first ever library filled with bilingual, Spanish and English books to help connect our children to the world” she added.  

“Adding more bilingual books to the existing Judith’s Reading Room library is an important step in building English language competency as bilingual books can offer a gentle bridge between the two languages, stated Ana Ramirez Luhrs, Judith’s Reading Room board member and Consulting Librarian to the organization.  “Bilingual texts help children feel empowered to read independently and also help parents who are not fluent in English to explain text” she added.

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Today’s “15 Libraries to Celebrate our 15th Anniversary” was celebrated at an all-school event attended by administrative scholastic personnel and parents. The Judith’s Reading Room library has become an important hub at this public school. Teachers are enhancing their classroom discussions with books in the library.

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Scott and Cathy reading aloud to classrooms in 106th library.

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The Cat in the Hat was a huge hit!

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These students are studying English and volunteered to read in English today in front of their classmates.

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Student reading in English to their fellow classmates from one of our newly donated bilingual books.

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The teacher read the Spanish sentences ii the bilingual book while the students behind her read them in English.

To celebrate the organization’s 15th anniversary, the Board of Directors declared a bold initiative to enhance or dedicate 15 new libraries in 2025.  On January 7th, the first of 15 libraries was celebrated in Muhanga, Rwanda.  Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras’ is the 2nd of 15 libraries to celebrate the anniversary. The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of kids from Mexico on the Pacific Ocean to Sri Lanka on the Indian Ocean.

The “15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary”

  1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — January 7
  2. Escuela Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — January 15
  3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y”, Toledo, Ohio — February 3
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, Mississippi  — February 15
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14
  7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Harkins House, Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBD
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBD
  14. Shree Jantra Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD
  15. Shree Prasad St. School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 global literacy organization was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders.  Its mission is:  “To enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.”  The organization has met its mission by establishing to date 108 eponymous libraries in 25 countries with more than 133,000 donated books at a cover price of $1.4 million dollars.

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Judith’s Reading Room Gifts TEACH Rwanda with a STEM Library

  By

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Gifts TEACH Rwanda with a STEM Library
Bright School/TEACH Rwanda’s Students Needed Books to Conquer Robotics Challenge

 

January 7, 2025 —  Judith’s Reading Room named Bright School/TEACH Rwanda as its first of 15 global organizations to receive a curated collection of books in celebration of the organization’s 15th anniversary.   The bold initiative, “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025” will include organizations stretching across 4 oceans and 4 continents. The inaugural ceremony was captured on ZOOM as eager students, their librarian and several teachers dove into the books.

Working with our partner TEACH Rwanda, Judith’s Reading Room established its 94th eponymous library in 2016 with 137 children’s books to which subsistence farming families could relate.  In testament to the dedication of TEACH Rwanda founders Jan Brown and William Whipple of Easton, Pennsylvania, today Brown and Whipple requested books on elevated science topics like robotics.

The hand-picked collection of 52 books on aeronautical engineering, architecture,  oceans and robotics with a cover price of $800 will add significant depth to Judith’s Reading Room’s library and will benefit 340 students ages pre-K to 6th grade plus 20 teachers in this sub-Saharan, land-locked African nation. 

“In particular,  the books on robotics and oceans will greatly assist Bright School’s Robotics Team as they compete in LEGO’s 2025 championship, the theme of which is “Submerged,” noted Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.  “To give Bright School’s students a “leg up,” Judith’s Reading Room selected a dozen books on the Ocean — a place on the planet most of them will never, ever see,” she added.

Bright School/TEACH Rwanda’s Robotics Team boasts 50/50 girls/boys.  UN Women,  sponsor of AGCCI — African Girls Can Code Initiative  — has been instrumental in making sure that girls can see technology-heavy careers for themselves.  “Robotics has been a big step forward in our lives.  First of all, we didn’t expect that robotics would bring us so many opportunities like meeting our (Rwandan) President face to face or getting our own computers,” Ninette, student, grade P6.

“What makes Bright School/TEACH Rwanda stand out is our concentration on literacy, developing teachers’ skills, providing necessary materials, and stressing gender equality,” said Whipple.  He added, “TEACH Rwanda has brought modern librarianship concepts to life including teaching respect for books,  how you turn pages of a book, how you put them on shelves so that you can find them again — etiquette that seems obvious to us in America is not well understood by children in Rwanda.”

French teacher and librarian, Bonfils Iradakunda, refugee from Burundi, encourages literacy, empowerment and joy at Bright School’s library.

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 “The 15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary in 2025”

  1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — January 7
  2. Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras,’ Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — January 15
  3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y”, Toledo, Ohio — February 3
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, Mississippi  — February 15
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14
  7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Washington County Juvenile’s ‘Harkins House,’ Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBD
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBD
  14. Shree Jantra Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD
  15. Shree Prasad St. School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD

 

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 global literacy organization was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders.  Its mission is:  “To enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.”  It has achieved that mission by dedicating 108 libraries in 25 countries with nearly 134,000 books donated valued at more than $1.4 million dollars.   ##  END  ##

Judith’s Reading Room Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary

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NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary 
With Bold Initiative:  Launch 15 Libraries in 2025

Effort Spans 4 Oceans and 4 Continents Impacting Thousands of Kids

       

January 3, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room, a global literacy nonprofit organization founded in 2010 will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2025.  The  board of directors announced today that it had approved a bold initiative called “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025.”  The organization will do that by dedicating 15 newly named libraries or by expanding a select few of its current libraries across the globe.  

Founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders, Judith’s Reading Room responds to requests to get books into the hands of those without access.  For example, in 2010 we answered the call from the PA National Guard who insisted that they needed books for our troops about to deploy toAfghanistan. Over 65 consecutive months, Judith’s Reading Room shipped more than 38,000 books.  “We believe — like book lovers everywhere — that providing the exact books people want to people without access connects people to the world and makes their lives meaningful and richer,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.

To date, Judith’s Reading Room has inaugurated 108 libraries in 25 countries with more than 133,000 curated books donated at $1.4 million.  To celebrate its milestone anniversary in 2025, literacy organizations around the world were invited to declare their interest in partnering with us on the “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025” initiative.  Once identified, together with our literacy partners, we will zero in on the needs of the community and together, will build solid and meaningful collections.

Consulting Librarian and Judith’s Reading Room board member, Ana Luhrs, co-director of Easton, Pennsylvania’s Lafayette College Special Collections, and Ty Allan Jackson, award-winning children’s book author and literacy advocate, have been tasked to ensure that the 2025 Judith’s Reading Room libraries contain books sure to delight and instill in others a love of reading.  This effort is at the heart and soul of Judith’s Reading Room.  

Ana Luhrs commented, “For example, the curated collection of books for Rwanda includes state-of-the-art books on robotics and the ocean to give their Robotics Team a leg up in this year’s LEGO championship, and the bilingual children’s books for Puerto Vallarta give voice to the community’s insistence that public school children become fluent in English.”

Library dedications will commence in January 2025.  Geographically, moving West to East, libraries will be established or enhanced from Portland, Oregon and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on the Pacific Ocean across the United States to New York on the Atlantic Ocean, to Scotland and to South Africa on to the Southern Ocean reaching the island country of Sri Lanka on the Indian Ocean.  

The 15 Libraries and their Dedication Dates

  1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — January 7
  2. Escuela Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — January 15
  3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y”, Toledo, Ohio — February 1
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, Mississippi — February 15
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14
  7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Harkins House, Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Public School, Kirioruwa, Sri Lanka  — TBD
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa  — TBD
  14. Shree Jantra Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD
  15. Shree Prasad St. School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 global literacy organization was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders.  The mission:  “To enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.”  It has achieved that mission by dedicating (as of December 2024) 108 libraries in 25 countries with more than 133,000 books donated valued at $1.4 million. 

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Judith’s Reading Room Dedicates Library for Children with Multiple Handicaps in Czech Republic

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NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Dedicates Library for Children with Multiple Handicaps in Czech Republic
Zahradka Primary School to act as “Mother” Library

November 16, 2024 — Prague, Czech Republic. One week ago, Judith’s Reading Room officially designated its 108th named library in its 25th country with its two Czech literacy partners, Pink Crocodile and The Neratov Association.

Serving children with multiple handicaps and Autism spectrum disorders, Pink Crocodile and The Neratov Association worked hand-in-hand with Judith’s Reading Room to design a curated library of concept story books in the form of board books plus sound, touch and feel sensory books that the teachers say students will enjoy and find interesting. Examples of books include: Never Touch a Pop-Up Dinosaur!, Itsy Bitsy Spider — Touch & Trace Nursery Rhymes, and Don’t Look Inside — Lift Flaps and Touch. For this library, the organization donated 86 books at US$1,070.

(L) Ulrike Michel-Schneider, board member, Pink Crocodile, suggested that the custom Judith’s Reading Room library “hopscotch” across the Czech Republic — rotating the library from the “mother” school, Zahradka Primary School across the country to “satellite” schools and institutions, each serving between 10-40 students. Next to her, Bornislava Havlikova, Director Special School Neratov and (R) Paulina Sjosdrandova, Pink Crocodile. (Photos of children supplied by Special School Neratov.)

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“The idea of a library ‘hopscotching’ across the Czech Republic is a new concept in mobile libraries. It is exciting to imagine that these books will reach children in all Pink Crocodile and The Nerataov Association schools as the books constantly rotate,” said Cathy Leiber, President & Co-Founder, Judith’s Reading Room.

Interview with Ulrike-Michel-Schneider (11/08/2024)
Today I asked Ulrike Michel-Schneider, board member Pink Crocodile, why are books important for children with severe handicaps? She told us, “we don’t understand what they understand. But, we see that they have reactions — they react — they sense differences that triggers something inside them. For example, they may not be able to see, but they can tell the difference between a carpet and a wooden floor. For those with sight, colors evoke different feelings. They like some colors a lot. They understand different shapes. These reactions all represent mini steps forward.” Judith’s Reading Room donated 86 sensory books today to compose a traveling library that will hopscotch across the Czech Republic reaching severely handicapped children from border to border

The Czech Republic is the 5th European country to house a Judith’s Reading Room library. The organization dedicated libraries in Albania in 2012, in Romania in 2014, in The Kyrgyz Republic in 2015 and in Scotland in 2024.

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 literacy organization, was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, first cousin to the founders. Judy, a distinguished librarian, served as Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association for 40 years, defending First Amendment rights of her fellow librarians.

Judith’s Reading Room’s mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy. The organization has actively pursued that mission by establishing, to date, 108 libraries in 25 countries with more than 133,000 donated books worth US$1.4 million. For more information, visit our website at www.judithsreadingroom.org.

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2024 Holiday Book Drive Announcement

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NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Barnes & Noble Wyomissing Holiday Book Drive To Benefit Judith’s Reading Room 

Buy a Kid a Book and Help Lift Literacy Rates Everywhere!

October 18, 2024 — Barnes & Noble Wyomissing has selected — for the 5th year in a row — Judith’s Reading Room as its Holiday Book Drive Charity.   The Holiday Book Drive kicks off on November 1, 2024 and continues through mid-December.

Wyomissing’s Barnes & Noble selected Judith’s Reading Room, a local nonprofit literacy organization, as their Holiday charity because it has consistently demonstrated that it knows how to get books into the hands of the most needy.

“Over the years, Barnes & Noble customers have been extremely generous in purchasing an extra book or two during the Holiday Book Drive.  Giving a book to a less fortunate child is one of the best gifts you can give. If all kids can read on grade level, then classrooms operate at a higher level.  Leave no one behind this holiday season by participating in the Wyomissing Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.

Based in Berks County, Pa,  Judith’s Reading Room is a global literacy nonprofit organization that was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders.  Since its inception, the organization has dedicated 107 libraries (and counting!) in 24 countries filled with 133,000 books worth more than $1.4 million.

For more information, visit the website at www.judithsreadingroom.org.

 

 

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