NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

 New Graphic Novel Collection Creates a “Library-Within-a-Library”
Custom Donation Reimagines What Reading Can Be


July 31, 2025 — Blandon, PA — In a move that refreshes and reimagines the role of today’s libraries, Judith’s Reading Room has donated a custom-curated collection of graphic novels to the historic James Prendergast Library in Jamestown, NY.  The gift, designed to create a ”library-within-a-library” brings new energy, relevance, and excitement to the library’s offerings — particularly for teens, visual learners, and reluctant readers.  It is the organization’s 114th library in 27 countries around the world.

Judith’s Reading Room founders, Cathy & Scott Leiber, seasonal visitors to Chautauqua County and specifically to the Chautauqua Institution, visited the Prendergast Library in 2024 to inquire if “they were in need of any brand new books?”  Having read a disturbing news article about the inadequate funding of our nation’s public libraries, it seemed like a reasonable question.  The answer was, “yes.” In a meeting with four librarians it was understood that what the library needed the most were graphic novels to support kids of all ages, many of whom are emergent readers, unable to read fluently on grade level and who suffer from reading insecurity.

“Libraries are no longer quiet warehouses for aging books,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.  “They are vibrant, evolving spaces — they need to be refreshed, made current and relevant. This donation — that has been made available all summer to 2,602 children and teens — is about helping the library become even more of a destination.”

The new collection features graphic novels chosen for their artistic merit, compelling storytelling, cultural relevance and appeal to readers of all ages.  The 114th Judith’s Reading Room library at the James Prendergast Library includes 157 outstanding children’s books at a cover price value of $1,880.  To name a few, the titles include The Amulet Series by Kazu Kibuishi, Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, the Bunny vs. Monkey Series by Jamie Smart, and The Wings of Fire Series (Books 1-8) by Tui Sutherland.

Library officials praised the donation as a timely investment in the future of reading. “We serve young readers across Chautauqua County and we’re committed to providing a varied and exciting collection of fiction for our community. Rising prices of materials has made this more challenging in recent years so we are extremely appreciative of the support. As we welcome more children coming through our doors this summer, we’re excited to be able to offer this new collection for them to enjoy,” said Tress Williams, the library’s Executive Director.

“This isn’t just about giving books,” added Leiber.  “It’s about giving readers a reason to fall in love with libraries again.”

 

IMG_2365IMG_2365
IMG_2346IMG_2346
IMG_2362IMG_2362
IMG_2359IMG_2359
IMG_2356IMG_2356
IMG_2348IMG_2348

 

 

In addition to becoming a named Judith’s Reading Room library, James Prendergast Library is included in the organization’s  “15 Libraries to Celebrate its 15th Anniversary Celebration in 2025.”  In a bold move, the organization’s Board of Directors voted to establish 15 new or enhanced libraries around the world in 2025.  James Prendergast Library is the 12th of 15 libraries to be honored so far this year.

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, MS  — February 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 Co. Juvenile’s ‘Harkins House,’ Hillsboro, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — June 3
  10. Janata Aadharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — June 19 — JRR Library #112
  11. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, Limpopo Province, South Africa — June 25 —Library #113
  12. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31 — JRR Library # 114
  13. Abundant Life Academy, Nutley, New Jersey — September 12 — JRR Library # 115
  14. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — September (TBA) — JRR # 116
  15. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1 — JRR #117

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 114 eponymous libraries (and counting!) in 27 countries (and counting!) and 10 US states with 135,000 books donated at a cover price of $1.45 million.

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

## END ##

Similar Posts

With South Africa, Judith’s Reading Room Expands to 27 Nations
|

With South Africa, Judith’s Reading Room Expands to 27 Nations

Byjrrtestadmin

June 25, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room, a global nonprofit literacy organization, founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished American librarian and cousin to its founders, today inaugurated its 113th library as it expanded geographically to its 27th country — South Africa.  Over the course of a decade, Judith’s Reading Room has established libraries in 7 African nations.

Vhulakanjhani Primary School, located in Malubana Village, Nkambako, Limpopo Province, serves approximately 900 students in grades R-7 (ages 5-13).  The school is in a rural part of Limpopo that depends largely on farming fruits, vegetables, animals and timber.  There is high unemployment and while the school is under-resourced, the teachers and students are dedicated and enthusiastic.

Judith’s Reading Room Donates Library to Jane Goodall Institute in Nepal
|

Judith’s Reading Room Donates Library to Jane Goodall Institute in Nepal

Byjrrtestadmin

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. 

Mee Wah Tan (recipient of Judith’s Reading Room’s ‘Outstanding Service Award’) — she is on the left. Ms. Shristi Singh Bhandari, Executive Director, Jane Goodall Institute Nepal is on the right.

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.

First-ever Tribal Community Library on Navajo Reservation, Chinle, AZ
|

First-ever Tribal Community Library on Navajo Reservation, Chinle, AZ

Byjrrtestadmin

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. 

Literacy Non-Profit Advances its 15th Anniversary Project on 3 Continents in June 2025
|

Literacy Non-Profit Advances its 15th Anniversary Project on 3 Continents in June 2025

Byjrrtestadmin

June 3, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room, the global literacy nonprofit organization based in eastern Pennsylvania, continued its “15 Libraries to Celebrate its 15th Anniversary in 2025” library installations on three continents.  A Scottish non-profit and two primary schools in Nepal and South Africa will receive curated book collections hand-picked to inspire a love of reading and to allow a culture of reading to catapult children and adults alike into a lifetime relationship with literature.

Heavy Sound, Cockenzie, Scotland Receives Curated Collection to Enhance its Existing Judith’s Reading Room library
|

Heavy Sound, Cockenzie, Scotland Receives Curated Collection to Enhance its Existing Judith’s Reading Room library

Byjrrtestadmin

June 3, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room, the global literacy nonprofit organization based in eastern Pennsylvania, continued its “15 Libraries to Celebrate its 15th Anniversary  in 2025” by today installing its latest collection of books for teens at Heavy Sound, the Scottish nonprofit located near Edinburgh in the village of Cockenzie, Scotland.  Heavy Sound, founded by Jordan Butler, works with some of Scotland’s most vulnerable and disconnected teens with poor to no literacy. 

First-ever Library in Sri Lanka
|

First-ever Library in Sri Lanka

Byjrrtestadmin

May 6, 2025 — A chance encounter on a flight from New York to San Francisco in 2017 found Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room of Pennsylvania and Professor Tissa Wijeratne, Senior Neurologist and Chair, Migraine Foundation of Australia seated next to each other.  Within minutes they discovered that they shared a passion for literacy, coming at it from wildly different perspectives.   The five-hour flight was filled with discussions of brain health, literacy, education and the role that reading plays in lifting people out of poverty.  Their conversation resulted eight years later in a shared commitment to establish a library in Dr. Tissa’s home country, Sri Lanka.  This epitomizes how a Judith’s Reading Room library materializes “out of thin air.”