NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org
Judith’s Reading Room Donates Library to Jane Goodall Institute in Nepal
Children Receive Books Destined to Take Them on a ‘Literary Ride’
June 19, 2025 — Hundreds of children in one of the poorest communities in rural Nepal joined Judith’s Reading Room — a global literacy nonprofit based in eastern Pennsylvania — today as it dedicated its 112th library in its 26th country — Nepal.
In collaboration with Jane Goodall Institute Nepal (JGIN), the 112th Judith’s Reading Room library was inaugurated today at Janata Adharbhut Primary School which now boasts its first-ever library with 578 children’s books in English that were purchased locally with $2,000 provided by Judith’s Reading Room. “There are 400 students in grades 4-7 who call this school their center of knowledge, yet the children who hail from one of the poorest communities of the region do not have access to books that go beyond their school curriculum,” according to Shristi Singh Bhandari, Executive Director, JGIN.
Nestled in the crowded rural community of Aurahi Municipalty in Madhesh Province, in the central, flat plains close to the border with India, the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots program works in 140 countries on environmental, conservation and humanitarian issues. “In Nepal, they reached out to Judith’s Reading Room to help focus on the greatest need: to enhance the culture of reading, cultivate a love for reading and impact a creative education for students so that they choose to stay in school (especially girls) and take agency for their own future,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.
Students will attend a weekly library class led by the librarian who doubles as the coordinator for JGIN’s Roots & Shoots program. Through storytelling workshops and reciting programs, children will be introduced to the books. “The Judith’s Reading Room library will give the young children an insight into a world that they have never experienced while engaging them on a ‘literary ride’ that they will hold with them for the rest of their lives: the ability to imagine, to create and to dream,” said Ms. Bhandari.
A life-long friend of the founders, Mee Wah Tan of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recommended JGIN’s organization as a partner owing to its strong footprint in the rural villages of Nepal and because of its highly trained staff to oversee the installation of an international library. Ms. Tan, who delivered prepared remarks on behalf of Cathy Leiber was recognized for her compassion to help sustain Nepalese youth with exceptional literature and for spearheading the partnership with JGIN. Ms. Bhandari presented her in front of the children with Judith’s Reading Room’s “Outstanding Service Award.”
“Judith’s Reading Room is proud to collaborate with 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.”
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Judith’s Reading Room’s Board voted to enhance or establish 15 new Judith’s Reading Room libraries in 2025. The initiative stretches across 4 oceans and 4 continents — Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Just this year alone, its books will enhance the lives of 8,417 students. Janata Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School in Nepal is the 10th Judith’s Reading Room library featured in this celebration.
MEE WAH TAN OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
The “15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary” — Dedication Dates
- Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — January 7
- Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras,’ Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — January 15
- Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y,” Toledo, Ohio — February 3 — JRR Library #109
- Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
- Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, MS — February 15 — JRR Library #110
- Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14 — JRR Library #111
- Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
- Washington Co. Juvenile’s ‘Harkins House,’ Hillsboro, Oregon — April 4
- Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — June 3
- Janata Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — June 19 — JRR Library #112
- Vhulakanjhani Primary School, Limpopo Province, South Africa —June 25 — Library #113
- James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31 — JRR Library # 114
- Abundant Life Academy, Nutley, New Jersey — September 12 — JRR Library # 115
- Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — September (TBA) — JRR # 116
- Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1 — JRR #117
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.” To date, it has achieved that mission by dedicating 112 libraries (and counting!) in 26 countries (and counting!) with 134,762 books valued at $1,447,746.
For more information about the “15 Libraries to Celebrate its 15th Anniversary in 2025” celebration, please visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.
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