Judith’s Reading Room Dedicates Library for Children with Multiple Handicaps in Czech Republic

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Dedicates Library for Children with Multiple Handicaps in Czech Republic

Zahradka Primary School to act as “Mother” Library

November 8, 2024 — Prague, Czech Republic. Judith’s Reading Room officially designated its 108th named library in its 25th country this morning with its two Czech literacy partners, Pink Crocodile and The Neratov Association.

Serving children with multiple handicaps and Autism spectrum disorders, Pink Crocodile and The Neratov Association worked hand-in-hand with Judith’s Reading Room to design a curated library of concept story books in the form of board books plus sound, touch and feel sensory books that the teachers say students will enjoy and find interesting. Examples of books include: Never Touch a Pop-Up Dinosaur!, Itsy Bitsy Spider — Touch & Trace Nursery Rhymes, and Don’t Look Inside — Lift Flaps and Touch. For this library, the organization donated 86 books at US$1,070.

(L) Ulrike Michel-Schneider, board member, Pink Crocodile, suggested that the custom Judith’s Reading Room library “hopscotch” across the Czech Republic — rotating the library from the “mother” school, Zahradka Primary School across the country to “satellite” schools and institutions, each serving between 10-40 students. Next to her, Bornislava Havlikova, Director Special School Neratov and (R) Paulina Sjosdrandova, Pink Crocodile. (Photos of children supplied by Special School Neratov.)

The idea of a library ‘hopscotching’ across the Czech Republic is a new concept in mobile libraries. It is exciting to imagine that these books will reach children in all Pink Crocodile and The Nerataov Association schools as the books constantly rotate,” said Cathy Leiber, President & Co-Founder, Judith’s Reading Room.

Interview with Ulrike-Michel-Schneider (11/08/2024)
Today I asked Ulrike Michel-Schneider, board member Pink Crocodile, why are books important for children with severe handicaps? She told us, “we don’t understand what they understand. But, we see that they have reactions — they react — they sense differences that triggers something inside them. For example, they may not be able to see, but they can tell the difference between a carpet and a wooden floor. For those with sight, colors evoke different feelings. They like some colors a lot. They understand different shapes. These reactions all represent mini steps forward.” Judith’s Reading Room donated 86 sensory books today to compose a traveling library that will hopscotch across the Czech Republic reaching severely handicapped children from border to border

The Czech Republic is the 5th European country to house a Judith’s Reading Room library. The organization dedicated libraries in Albania in 2012, in Romania in 2014, in The Kyrgyz Republic in 2015 and in Scotland in 2024.

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 literacy organization, was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, first cousin to the founders. Judy, a distinguished librarian, served as Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association for 40 years, defending First Amendment rights of her fellow librarians.

Judith’s Reading Room’s mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy. The organization has actively pursued that mission by establishing, to date, 108 libraries in 25 countries with more than 133,000 donated books worth US$1.4 million. For more information, visit our website at www.judithsreadingroom.org.

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Judith’s Reading Room Expands to 25 Countries

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Expands to 25 Countries
Czech Republic to become its 5th country in Europe

August 3, 2024 — In collaboration with the Czech Republic’s nonprofit Pink Crocodile Charity for Children and The Neratov Association, Judith’s Reading Room announced today that it has finalized steps to dedicate its 108th library at the Zahradka Primary School and the Neratov Primary School on November 8, 2024.  Located in Prague and East Bohemia, respectively, the curated traveling library will serve specials needs children.  This marks a milestone for the organization:  The library in the Czech Republic will bring to a total East Bohemia where Judith’s Reading Room is established.

Zahradka Primary is a special education school for pupils with multiple handicaps and autism spectrum disorders.  The school serves 36 pupils in five classes that allow for individual education plans.  The goal is to give pupils a level of independence while building their social skills.  Reading books aloud are a key part of building those skills.

The special school Neratov is part of a larger association caring for people with disabilities in the region of Neratov, a small village in East Bohemia close to the Polish border.  The association Neratov provides sheltered work shops, jobs, and assisted living for people with mental disabilities.

In agreement with Pink Crocodile’s board member Ulrike Michel-Schneider, the Zahradka Primary School will act as the “mother” library.  Pink Crocodile will then “travel” with a selection of the books to “satellite” schools and institutions, each serving between 10-40 students.  “In this manner, Judith’s Reading Room’s books will reach more children throughout the Czech Republic as the books constantly rotate, said Cathy Leiber, Co-Founder, Judith’s Reading Room.

Pink Crocodile staff curated the comprehensive list of children’s books that teachers say students will enjoy and find interesting.  The custom library includes 80 concept and story books in the form of board books plus sound, touch and feel sensory books.  Judith’s Reading Room donated $1,000 toward the purchase of the curated library.

“It has been a great opportunity to further support the organizations we already serve.  Books are an important part in the education for children with special needs.  Extending the mission of Judith’s Reading Room goes hand in hand with our mission,” says Ulrike Michel-Schneider from Pink Crocodile in Prague.

Judith’s Reading Room in Europe

The Czech Republic will become the 5th European country to house a Judith’s Reading Room library.   In 2012, Judith’s Reading Room dedicated two libraries in Albania at the request of US Peace Corps volunteers — the Rakip Kocibelli School in Qatrom and the Polene Elementary School near Korce.  Two years later, in 2014, Judith’s Reading Room established five libraries-within-libraries in Romania at the behest of its Resita City municipal librarian, Dominique Zara.  She requested our support to deliver books for the city’s 70,000 residents who lacked access to books in English.  In 2015, Judith’s Reading Room responded to US Peace Corps volunteers and shipped books to the Risbek Aidarliev School, serving 902 students in The Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan).

On August 10, 2024, the organization will dedicate its 107th library in Edinburgh, Scotland in collaboration with The Scottish Book Trust and Heavy Sound, a nonprofit serving at-risk teens.  In November, 2024, Judith’s Reading Room will open its 108th library in collaboration with Pink Crocodile Charity for Children that serves special schools Zahradka Primary School (Prague) and Neratov in East Bohemia.   Both organizations serve underprivileged children with multiple handicaps and autism spectrum disorders.

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501(c)3 literacy organization, was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, first cousin to the founders.  Judy, a distinguished librarian, served as Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association for 40 years, notably defending First Amendment rights of her fellow librarians.

Judith’s Reading Room’s mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.  The organization has actively pursued that mission by establishing, to date, 106 libraries in 23 countries with more than 133,000 donated books worth USD $1.4 million.  For more information, visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.

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