NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

With South Africa, Judith’s Reading Room Expands to 27 Nations
 Early Learning Books Curated for School  of 900 Students In Limpopo Province

 

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 discovered Vhulakanjhani Primary School through our relationship with James and Colin Bloom, teenage brothers who are dual US/South Africa Citizens and co-founders of Libraries for Literacy.   Including today’s inauguration, the Bloom brothers have established six libraries in schools across South Africa.  The Vhulakanjhani library features a new 45 square meter prefabricated building provided in partnership with Breadline Africa.

We first met Colin in 2023 when he applied for — and won —a Judith’s Reading Room ‘Freedom Through Literacy Award.’  We reached out to Colin and James to encourage their participation in Judith’s Reading Room’s bold initiative:  “15 Libraries to Celebrate our 15th Anniversary in 2025” celebration. The initiative to launch 15 libraries in a single year stretches geographically across 4 oceans and 4 continents.  Judith’s Reading Room’s library expansion will benefit 8,415 children this year alone.

Judith’s Reading Room  contributed 84 early literacy picture books with a cover price value of $836 while Libraries for Literacy supplied large quantities of books in English, Xitsonga and Sepedi.  In South Africa, children learn their home language until third grade when they transition to learning English.   “Early literacy picture books are crucial for establishing comprehension and a love of books,” said James Bloom.

The Judith’s Reading Room hand-picked donation includes well-known children’s favorites like Where the Wild Things Are, Pete the Cat books, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and Dr. Seuss books like One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish and The Cat in the Hat.  To enhance early literacy skills, an extensive collection of Level 1:  I Can Read! books were included.

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the organization’s Board of Directors voted to enhance and/or establish 15 new Judith’s Reading Room libraries.  The initiative stretches across 4 oceans and 4 continents — Africa, Asia, Europe and North America — and its books will enhance the lives of 8,415 students.  Vhulkanjhani Primary School in Limpopo Province, South Africa is the 11th Judith’s Reading Room library featured in this celebration.

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

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 113 libraries (and counting!) in 27 countries (and counting!) with 134,846 books valued at $1,448,582.

Judith’s Reading Room is now present in 7 African nations and has demonstrated a commitment to the continent since 2012.  Vhulakanjhani Primary School in Limpopo Province, South Africa is our 7th African nation.  In 2012, Judith’s Reading Room established 3 libraries in Yola-By-Pass, Adamawa State, Nigeria.  That library was followed by Schlip Primary School in Rehoboth, Namibia, The Bright School/TEACH Rwanda in Muhanga, Rwanda, the Mukwashi Trust School in Lusaka West, Zambia, the Ziga Primary School in the Tsholotsho Region, south of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe and also in Zimbabwe, the Jabulani Community Literacy Program in Victoria Falls.  Finally, Judith’s Reading Room’s 104th library at Education & English For You in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

For more information on the “15 Libraries to Celebrate our 15th Anniversary,” please visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.