NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room To Establish First-ever
Tribal Community Library on Navajo Reservation, Chinle, AZ

 

June 12, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room announced today that it will establish a curated library of exceptional literature written or illustrated by Indigenous people — mainly Navajo but also including dozens of enrolled citizens from tribes across the United States. The inauguration of the Judith’s Reading Room library to serve the 128,000 Navajo people will establish its first-ever Tribal Community Library in Chinle, AZ.

Chinle Planting Hope (CPH), a local Arizona nonprofit, was selected as one of 15 libraries to be dedicated as a part of the organization’s “15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary in 2025.”  Judith’s Reading Room has supported CHP since 2020 by donating 500 children’s books for its READ in Beauty Bookmobile.

 The collection was curated by Ana Luhrs, Judith’s Reading Room’s Board of Directors member who serves as its “Consulting Librarian” is Lafayette College’s Librarian of Special Collections based in Easton, Pennsylvania.  The first shipment of books to Chinle will be made next week and will comprise the backbone of the collection which is expected to grow over the coming years.  Genres include juvenile picture books, nonfiction reference books, fiction, horror, juvenile young readers, YA sci-fi and fantasy, juvenile biography, YA fiction and nonfiction, mystery, U.S. history and biography.

“We were tasked with obtaining every book we could get our hands on authored by or illustrated by a member of the Navajo nation.  To round out the collection, we expanded our search to include enrolled citizens and members of other nations,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.  For example, the collection includes books by Christine Day, enrolled citizen of Upper Skagit tribe; Tommy Orange, citizen of Cheyenne & Arapaho tribes; Alexis Bunten, Aleut/Yup’ik; Monique Gray Smith, Cree; Darcie Little Badger, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas; and Jonathan Nelson, Navajo.

Chinle 1Chinle 1
Chinle 2Chinle 2
There is currently no library on the Navajo reservation — the only way for residents to enjoy books is through the READ in Beauty bookmobile sponsored by Chinle Planting Hope. Judith’s Reading Room has donated 500 books since 2020 to support the bookmobile.

  “15 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
  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 Children & Family Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Washington Co. Residential Center’s ‘Harkins House,’ Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — June 3
  10. Janata Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — June 20
  11. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — June 25
  12. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  13. Abundant Life Academy, Nutley, New Jersey — September 12
  14. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — September (TBA)
  15. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1

 

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