Tag: Barnes & Noble

15 Libraries To Celebrate Milestone 15th Anniversary in 2025

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

15 Global Organizations to Benefit during JRRs 15th Anniversary in 2025   

October 16, 2024 — Judith’s Reading Room named Bright School/TEACH Rwanda its first of 15 global organizations to receive a curated collection of books in celebration of the organization’s 15th anniversary in 2025.

Today’s donation includes 52 books with a cover price value of $800.  The books were purchased and prepared for shipment via container ship leaving the USA in a couple of months.  The library will be dedicated in Muhanga, Rwanda on January 7, 2025 and will serve 340 students and 20 teachers.

The relationship with TEACH Rwanda dates back to 2016 when Judith’s Reading Room donated 137 hand-picked books to Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, a nonprofit founded by Easton, PA residents Jan Brown and her husband William (Bill) Whipple.  That library, Judith’s Reading Room’s 94th in its 17th country, focused on books to serve subsistence farming families and their children.  Bill told us today, “It is a lively, engaging spot on the campus, loved by all the students and teachers!”

To celebrate the organization’s 15th anniversary, Judith’s Reading Room proactively reached out to literacy organizations worldwide to determine who needed books to advance literacy in their city or country.  TEACH Rwanda responded within minutes.  When asked what books the students needed, Ms. Brown told us that “the kids need books with plenty of illustrations to make ideas real because few have access to TV, internet or other windows to the world.  They desire applied science/math books such as architecture, robotics, environment and agriculture and books to help teenagers learn about the possibilities for careers that they would not know about were it not for books.”

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A group of volunteers went to town today at Barnes & Noble to purchase the perfect books.   Titles include:  365 Build-it-Yourself Engineering Projects, Think Like a Robotics Engineer, Where the Animals Go — Tracking Wildlife with Technology, Wonder Women of Science, and The Ultimate Biography of Earth.  Bright School students also participate in LEGO Robotics competitions.  Whipple informed us that the subject for 2025 is “Submerged,” an ocean-inspired theme to explore life beneath the surface of the ocean.  With no direct access to the sea, imagine children from a land-locked central African nation competing on such a topic!  To help level the playing field, we also purchased these books:  OCEAN!  Our Watery World as You’ve Never Seen it Before, Ocean — A Visual Encyclopedia, and OCEAN.

“Overall, providing access to STEM books can empower kids, helping them build a bright future to achieve long-term prosperity in an increasingly technology-driven world,” stated Cathy Leiber, President and Co-Founder Judith’s Reading Room.

Rae Durnin

Retired Wilson High School (Easton, PA) Biology teacher, Rae Durnin lent her expertise in selecting the books for Bright School. Durnin will be honored with the organization’s Outstanding Service Award, connecting her forever to the children in Rwanda.

Since 2010, Judith’s Reading Room has established 107 (and counting) libraries in 24 countries (and counting) with more than 133,000 donated books worth $1.4 million.  On the continent of Africa, Judith’s Reading Room has dedicated 9 libraries in 6 nations:  Nigeria -3 libraries;  Zimbabwe – 2 libraries and one each in Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and the Ivory Coast.

Judith’s Reading Room, a global literacy nonprofit organization founded in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian, will mark its 15th anniversary in 2025 by establishing or enhancing 15 Judith’s Reading Room libraries in 2025.  Thirteen (13) organizations are confirmed to receive enhancements to their existing JRR libraries or NEW libraries in 2025, leaving two coveted spots available as of this date.

TEACH Rwanda will receive 52 books with a cover price of $800 to serve 340 students and 20 teachers. These books will enhance the existing Judith’s Reading Room library established there in 2016.

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2024 Founders’ Award Recipient – Jordan Butler

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NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Names Recipient of its 2024 Founders’ Award
In honor of literacy heroes everywhere who nourish souls and fulfill dreams

September 12, 2024 — Judith’s Reading Room, a global literacy nonprofit organization founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and first-cousin to the organization’s founders, established in 2022 its signature “Founders’ Award” to honor literacy heroes who have had to overcome immense obstacles to enrich lives through literacy.

Cathy and Scott Leiber, founders of Judith’s Reading Room, proudly announce that Jordan Butler, himself founder of the nonprofit Heavy Sound, East Lothian, Scotland is named recipient of the 2024 Founders’ Award. Cathy and Scott met Butler in August 2024 to dedicate the 107 th Judith’s Reading Room library in its 24th country at Heavy Sound, located near Edinburgh in the seaside village of East Lothian, Scotland.

L to R: Jordan Butler, Cathy Leiber, Scott Leiber at Heavy Sound, East Lothian, Scotland

Based on his own lived experience of homelessness, mental health, addiction and involvement in the criminal justice system of Scotland, Butler turned his life around, and in a herculean effort founded Heavy Sound to help other vulnerable and disconnected young people. Today, it is a thriving hub for some of the most vulnerable, at-risk and hardest to reach young people in Scotland. Heavy Sound provides a trusted space devoted to teaching bicycle repair, musical
instrumentation, and access to literacy through the recently dedicated Judith’s Reading Room library (shown below) filled with 124 ‘must-have’ Graphic Novels.
Judith’s Reading Room Library #107, East Lothian, Scotland

Butler recognizes the barriers illiteracy causes that haunt people throughout their lives. He sought to cut the cycle by inspiring and supporting others to become readers and writers. As a boy, Butler found solace from a dysfunctional home inside his community library. That library was a haven and shelter from the storm, while the librarians provided understanding and compassion. The library, librarians and books saved his life.

In recognition of Butler’s measurable impact on the life of disaffected fellow citizens, and his dedication to bring literature into their lives, Judith’s Reading Room is proud to name Butler its 2024 Founders’ Award recipient and awards him with a prize of $1,000.For more information about Judith’s Reading Room’s initiatives, including previous recipients of the Founders’ Award, visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.

The Founders’ Award
2024 – Mr. Jordan Butler, Heavy Sound, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland
2022 – Ms. Basarat Kazim, Alif Laila Book Bus Society, Lahore, Pakistan
2022 – Ms. Simon Ke, Anjali House, Siem Reap, Cambodia

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Graphic Novels Comprise Curated Library

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NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Graphic Novels Comprise Curated Library Destined for
Children in Scotland with Poor/No Literacy

Update – Sept. 19, 2024 – letter and poster from Linda Bendle, CEO, Heavy Sound

Hi Cathy and Marc,
I hope this finds you well.  I thought you might like to see the attached which we have been sharing on our social media and with our network, accompanied by the following quote:
“The more that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”.
Dr Seuss.
I have asked Sarah to send an update on engagement in due course which I will pass on too, however safe to say we are definitely off to a good start with the books.
Warmest wishes,  Linda
Linda Bendle

 

Update – August 2024

Photos taken today at the dedication of our 107th library in our 24th country. The 124 graphic novels were hand-picked for the at-risk children with low or no literacy skills served by Heavy Sound. The books were curated by The Scottish Book Trust.

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Link to: SCOTTISH BOOK TRUST PRESS RELEASE ***

April 16, 2024 —  Judith’s Reading Room today purchased 124 teenage graphic novels identified by The Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh, Scotland that will constitute a first-ever library at Heavy Sound in East Lothian, Scotland when Judith’s Reading Room dedicates its 107th library in its 24th country.

Reading has to start somewhere and kids need to develop confidence that they can do it.  For many, graphic novels are the perfect stepping stone for reluctant readers or for kids afraid of seeing so many words on a page.  The 124 ‘must-have’ graphic novels were purchased at Center Valley, PA Barnes & Noble with a cover price of $2,456 and will be shipped to coincide with the dedication of the library on August 10, 2024.

“Graphic novel kids can relate to pictures and that helps them understand the storyline,” said Barnes & Noble Manager Erin Cornish.  She added, “Once they grasp the reading aspect, the light bulb goes on!”  Cornish and her colleagues Kayla Sharott and Amy Schenkenberger scoured the stacks and ordered the books to create the perfect collection.

The Judith’s Reading Room’s 107th library will be installed at Heavy Sound, a nonprofit based in East Lothian, Scotland that works with some of Scotland’s most vulnerable and disconnected teens with poor to no literacy.  Heavy Sound recognizes the barriers illiteracy causes throughout their lives and therefore aims to inspire and support them to become readers and writers.

“The idea is to not only get these kids onto grade level reading, but to instill in them a love of reading that will catapult them into a lifelong relationship with literature,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.

 

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Generous Pennsylvanians Applauded for Donating Books to Children in Need

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Generous Pennsylvanians Applauded for Donating Books to Children in Need

December 29, 2020 —  Judith’s Reading Room, a nonprofit literacy organization based in eastern Pa, delivered “food for the soul” of children in need across this country thanks to the generous patrons of Wyomissing’s Barnes & Noble located in Broadcasting Square.  Judith’s Reading Room was selected as its 2020 Holiday Book Drive Charity.

During the coronavirus pandemic, which brought many families to the breaking point, book lovers responded to the B&N Holiday Book Drive and donated a total of 1,918 books with a cover price value of $19,434.  “It is impossible to state how emotional it is for families and children, who have suffered greatly this year, to receive brand new books thanks to Barnes & Noble and its book-loving patrons,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.  She continued, “we are grateful for the confidence Barnes & Noble has placed on our organization to get the perfect books to the perfect children.”

As the books were collected weekly, Judith’s Reading Room allocated the donated books to its proven, award-winning organizations serving children at Casa Guadalupe in Allentown, PA, to children in rural Texas, to Navajo Nation children in Chinle, Arizona, to children educated by an AME pastor in South Haven, Mississippi, and to children who get their books delivered by a camel named Bright in Kech Balochistan, Pakistan.

Judith’s Reading Room was founded in 2010.  Its mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.  To date, the organization has fulfilled that mission by establishing 101 libraries in 22 countries with over 130,000 books valued at over $1.4 million dollars.  Its signature event is the annual Freedom Through Literacy Award competition which has awarded $38,500 in cash prizes to 35 champions of literacy.

Applications for the 2021 Freedom Through Literacy Award will be posted on the organization’s website at www.judithsreadingroom.org in late January 2021.

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