“Freedom Through Literacy”
Est. 2010 in memory of Judith F. Krug
January 26, 2026 — Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 literacy nonprofit organization founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and first-cousin to the organization’s founders, announced that “The Judith’s Award” — established in 2019 — has been re-focused to recognize literacy champions in America.
September 20, 2024 — The American Library Association will highlight the dramatic increase in threats against First Amendment rights during its annual Banned Books Week celebration this year, scheduled for September 22-28, 2024.
Kudos to Prendergast Library, Jamestown, New York, one of 38 libraries in the Chautauqua-Cattaragus Library System in western New York, for supporting a summer reading program.
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY — During tonight’s all-star tribute, CNN announced the top ten winners of its 2023 CNN Heroes competition. Judith’s Reading Room is thrilled to acknowledge Alvin Irby, a Judith’s Reading Room 2019 Grand Prize winner.
22 September 2023 — Hillsboro, Oregon —In recognition of Banned Books Week, the global literacy nonprofit organization Judith’s Reading Room hosted a special event at Washington County’s Harkins House with a donation of mostly banned or challenged YA fiction, nonfiction and graphic novels.
Judith’s Reading Room, a global nonprofit literacy organization based in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, celebrated the winner of its 2nd Annual Literacy Chair Award — the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System — for its innovative “CCLS Road Trip” project, a summertime initiative that seeks to remind everyone that libraries have a lot to offer and encourages the public to get back into the library.
Judith’s Reading Room, a global nonprofit organization based in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, announced today the winner of its 2nd Annual Literacy Chair Award — the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System — for its innovative “CCLS Road Trip” project, a summertime initiative that seeks to remind everyone that libraries have a lot to offer and encourages the public to get back into the library.
Washington County’s Harkins House and Judith’s Reading Room, a global nonprofit literacy organization, today announced their latest collaboration to enhance Judith’s Reading Room’s library established there in 2012.
Finally, Honorable Mention Awards (no cash award) are given to those applicants who the judges want to acknowledge and think deserve encouragement. The idea behind the Honorable Mention Awards is to propel the applicants to continue their literacy efforts and to apply for future Freedom Through Literacy Awards.
Pamela Laskin, author, New York City for her project, “Diversity and Differently-Abled.” Two-time Freedom Through Literacy Award winner, Laskin has completed a series of picture books that capture the world of those who are differently-abled; in particular, those without speech, and what it means in a family. She reads these books aloud in public school classrooms with the goal to educate a mainstream audience.