Puerto Vallarta Receives Collection of Bilingual Books

 

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CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

School in Puerto Vallarta Receives Collection of Bilingual Books
Introducing bilingual books to Spanish-speaking children is one of the most effective ways to set them on a path to success

January 15, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room announced that its 106th eponymous library, Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras’ in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico received today an expanded collection of bilingual books in honor of the organization’s “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025.”  Principal Ma. Guadalupe Ramirez Lopez requested a collection of bi-lingual books on comprehensive themes including fantasy, values, animals, superheroes and emotions.  

Judith’s Reading Room co-founders Cathy & Scott Leiber inaugurated the hand-picked collection of 52 bilingual books (Spanish-English) with a cover price of $494 today at “Escuela Agustin Flores Contreras” in the heart of this Pacific Ocean resort. The bi-lingual books will deepen the library of 538 books that Judith’s Reading Room donated in February 2024, naming it the organization’s 106th library.

Until February 2024, the public school serving 189 elementary aged children did not have a library. “A whole-community effort including parents, teachers, students, government officials demanded that a library be established at the school so that the children could compete for better jobs in the future,” stated Lopez.  “Judith’s Reading Room stepped in and established our first ever library filled with bilingual, Spanish and English books to help connect our children to the world” she added.  

Adding more bilingual books to the existing Judith’s Reading Room library is an important step in building English language competency as bilingual books can offer a gentle bridge between the two languages, stated Ana Ramirez Luhrs, Judith’s Reading Room board member and Consulting Librarian to the organization.  “Bilingual texts help children feel empowered to read independently and also help parents who are not fluent in English to explain text” she added.


Today’s “15 Libraries to Celebrate our 15th Anniversary” was celebrated at an all-school event attended by administrative scholastic personnel and parents. The Judith’s Reading Room library has become an important hub at this public school. Teachers are enhancing their classroom discussions with books in the library.


Puerto Vallarta Inauguration Celebration


Scott and Cathy reading aloud to classrooms in 106th library.


The Cat in the Hat was a huge hit!


These students are studying English and volunteered to read in English today in front of their classmates.


Student reading in English to their fellow classmates from one of our newly donated bilingual books.


The teacher read the Spanish sentences ii the bilingual book while the students behind her read them in English.


To celebrate the organization’s 15th anniversary, the Board of Directors declared a bold initiative to enhance or dedicate 15 new libraries in 2025.  On January 7th, the first of 15 libraries was celebrated in Muhanga, Rwanda.  Escuela ‘Agustin Flores Contreras’ is the 2nd of 15 libraries to celebrate the anniversary. The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of kids from Mexico on the Pacific Ocean to Sri Lanka on the Indian Ocean.

The “15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary”

  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
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, Mississippi  — February 15
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14
  7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Harkins House, Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBD
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBD
  14. Shree Jantra Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD
  15. Shree Prasad St. School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD

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 met its mission by establishing to date 108 eponymous libraries in 25 countries with more than 133,000 donated books at a cover price of $1.4 million dollars.

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

 

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CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Gifts TEACH Rwanda with a STEM Library
Bright School/TEACH Rwanda’s Students Needed Books to Conquer Robotics Challenge

 

January 7, 2025 —  Judith’s Reading Room named Bright School/TEACH Rwanda as its first of 15 global organizations to receive a curated collection of books in celebration of the organization’s 15th anniversary.   The bold initiative, “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025” will include organizations stretching across 4 oceans and 4 continents. The inaugural ceremony was captured on ZOOM as eager students, their librarian and several teachers dove into the books.

Working with our partner TEACH Rwanda, Judith’s Reading Room established its 94th eponymous library in 2016 with 137 children’s books to which subsistence farming families could relate.  In testament to the dedication of TEACH Rwanda founders Jan Brown and William Whipple of Easton, Pennsylvania, today Brown and Whipple requested books on elevated science topics like robotics.

The hand-picked collection of 52 books on aeronautical engineering, architecture,  oceans and robotics with a cover price of $800 will add significant depth to Judith’s Reading Room’s library and will benefit 340 students ages pre-K to 6th grade plus 20 teachers in this sub-Saharan, land-locked African nation. 

“In particular,  the books on robotics and oceans will greatly assist Bright School’s Robotics Team as they compete in LEGO’s 2025 championship, the theme of which is “Submerged,” noted Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.  “To give Bright School’s students a “leg up,” Judith’s Reading Room selected a dozen books on the Ocean — a place on the planet most of them will never, ever see,” she added.

Bright School/TEACH Rwanda’s Robotics Team boasts 50/50 girls/boys.  UN Women,  sponsor of AGCCI — African Girls Can Code Initiative  — has been instrumental in making sure that girls can see technology-heavy careers for themselves.  “Robotics has been a big step forward in our lives.  First of all, we didn’t expect that robotics would bring us so many opportunities like meeting our (Rwandan) President face to face or getting our own computers,” Ninette, student, grade P6.

“What makes Bright School/TEACH Rwanda stand out is our concentration on literacy, developing teachers’ skills, providing necessary materials, and stressing gender equality,” said Whipple.  He added, “TEACH Rwanda has brought modern librarianship concepts to life including teaching respect for books,  how you turn pages of a book, how you put them on shelves so that you can find them again — etiquette that seems obvious to us in America is not well understood by children in Rwanda.”

French teacher and librarian, Bonfils Iradakunda, refugee from Burundi, encourages literacy, empowerment and joy at Bright School’s library.


 “The 15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary in 2025”

  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
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, Mississippi  — February 15
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14
  7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Washington County Juvenile’s ‘Harkins House,’ Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBD
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBD
  14. Shree Jantra Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD
  15. Shree Prasad St. School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD

 

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.”  It has achieved that mission by dedicating 108 libraries in 25 countries with nearly 134,000 books donated valued at more than $1.4 million dollars.   ##  END  ##

Judith’s Reading Room Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary 
With Bold Initiative:  Launch 15 Libraries in 2025

Effort Spans 4 Oceans and 4 Continents Impacting Thousands of Kids

       

January 3, 2025 — Judith’s Reading Room, a global literacy nonprofit organization founded in 2010 will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2025.  The  board of directors announced today that it had approved a bold initiative called “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025.”  The organization will do that by dedicating 15 newly named libraries or by expanding a select few of its current libraries across the globe.  

Founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and cousin to the founders, Judith’s Reading Room responds to requests to get books into the hands of those without access.  For example, in 2010 we answered the call from the PA National Guard who insisted that they needed books for our troops about to deploy toAfghanistan. Over 65 consecutive months, Judith’s Reading Room shipped more than 38,000 books.  “We believe — like book lovers everywhere — that providing the exact books people want to people without access connects people to the world and makes their lives meaningful and richer,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.

To date, Judith’s Reading Room has inaugurated 108 libraries in 25 countries with more than 133,000 curated books donated at $1.4 million.  To celebrate its milestone anniversary in 2025, literacy organizations around the world were invited to declare their interest in partnering with us on the “15 Libraries to Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary in 2025” initiative.  Once identified, together with our literacy partners, we will zero in on the needs of the community and together, will build solid and meaningful collections.

Consulting Librarian and Judith’s Reading Room board member, Ana Luhrs, co-director of Easton, Pennsylvania’s Lafayette College Special Collections, and Ty Allan Jackson, award-winning children’s book author and literacy advocate, have been tasked to ensure that the 2025 Judith’s Reading Room libraries contain books sure to delight and instill in others a love of reading.  This effort is at the heart and soul of Judith’s Reading Room.  

Ana Luhrs commented, “For example, the curated collection of books for Rwanda includes state-of-the-art books on robotics and the ocean to give their Robotics Team a leg up in this year’s LEGO championship, and the bilingual children’s books for Puerto Vallarta give voice to the community’s insistence that public school children become fluent in English.”

Library dedications will commence in January 2025.  Geographically, moving West to East, libraries will be established or enhanced from Portland, Oregon and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on the Pacific Ocean across the United States to New York on the Atlantic Ocean, to Scotland and to South Africa on to the Southern Ocean reaching the island country of Sri Lanka on the Indian Ocean.  

The 15 Libraries and their 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 1
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — February 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, Mississippi — February 15
  6. Mosaic Preparatory Academy, East Harlem, New York — March 14
  7. Louisiana Methodist Family & Children’s Services, Ruston, Louisiana — April 1
  8. Harkins House, Portland, Oregon — April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland — May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York — July 31
  11. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona — November 1
  12. Public School, Kirioruwa, Sri Lanka  — TBD
  13. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa  — TBD
  14. Shree Jantra Adharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD
  15. Shree Prasad St. School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBD

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.  The mission:  “To enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.”  It has achieved that mission by dedicating (as of December 2024) 108 libraries in 25 countries with more than 133,000 books donated valued at $1.4 million. 

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State College, PA Teacher Wins Literacy Award

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CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
484-661-6151
www.judithsreadingroom.org

State College, PA Teacher Wins Literacy Award

The Delta Program’s Allison Lauded for Efforts to Teach ‘Advocacy to Teens’

Updated: May 16, 2024
|
April 10, 2024 — State College, Pennsylvania’s English teacher, Amy Allison, winner of the 2024 Judith’s Reading Room’s Freedom Through Literacy ‘Judith’s Award’ for her project titled, “Advocacy for Teens Class” was honored yesterday in front of her classroom at State College ASD’s Delta Program.  Fellow teacher, Virginia Squier who nominated Allison, Superintendent Curtis Johnson and two members of the school board, Amy Bader and Deborah Anderson were present.

Amy Allison is presented with Judith’s Award by Judith’s Reading Room co-founder Scott Leiber

Judith’s Reading Room, a global 501 (c) 3 literacy organization, was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian who served as Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association for 40 years.

The Freedom Through Literacy Award, given annually since 2015, honors individual champions of literacy from around the world — teachers, librarians, authors, researchers, educators — who have done exemplary work to instill in others a love of reading.  The ‘Judith’s Award’ specifically honors the applicant who best mirrors the intentions, the dreams, the insistence, the passion of Judith F. Krug.  To date, $58,600 has been awarded to 71 champions of literacy from 18 countries, including 11 US states.

The judges selected Allison to win the ‘Judith’s Award’ for teaching teens how to engage in civic and cultural literacy by first learning about their local library as a foundation for how to advocate an issue.  Krug’s life work and legacy includes Banned Books Week, established in 1982, that celebrates the First Amendment and draws attention to banned and challenged books.

Scott Leiber, Krug’s first cousin, spoke about her life-long dedication to advocating for the First Amendment especially as it affected her fellow librarians, who even at that time were subject to attack from those who disagreed that a certain book should be made available.  Leiber likened the work of Allison to that of Krug saying, “like you, Judy was a remarkable leader in the struggle to educate the public and advocate for issues concerning the right to the free expression of ideas.”

Scott and Cathy Leiber, co-founders of Judith’s Reading Room, presented Allison with her trophy and cash prize of $1,500.  Allison informed the gathering that the prize will be spent in support of a student-led advocacy project.

UPDATE: May 9, 2024Delta Program Teacher Recognized for Advocacy Class Delta Program High School District News

 

The mission of Judith’s Reading Room is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.  The organization has fulfilled that mission by establishing 106 libraries (and counting!) in 23 countries with over 133,000 books donated worth $1.4 million.

Applications for the 2025 Freedom Through Literacy Award will be available at www.judithsreadingroom.org beginning October 7, 2024.  Deadline for Applications is February 3, 2025.

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Winners of 2024 “Freedom Through Literacy Award.”

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
484-661-6151
www.judithsreadingroom.org

2024 Freedom Through Literacy Award Winners Announced

March 1, 2024 — Judith’s Reading Room announced the winners of its 10th annual “Freedom Through Literacy Awards” with a purse of $5,100. The Award honors individuals who have done exemplary work to instill in others a love of reading.

Applicants from Pennsylvania and New York in the USA and from Africa, India, Mexico and the Middle East included poets, teachers, librarians, authors, a literacy “hobbyist,” community volunteers and literacy non-profits. Three overarching literacy themes were evident in this year’s set of
applications: (1) improved literacy to break barriers in rural communities, (2) focus on adult education to break the intergenerational cycle of low literacy and, (3) poetry as an essential means of expression.

Grand Prize Award

For the first-time in a decade, the “Freedom Through Literacy Award” announces an historic three-way tie for Grand Prize. The Award will be split equally, $1,000 each.

Brian Okinda, Librarian, Rafiki wa Maendeleo Trust, Bondo, Siaya, Kenya shares the Grand Prize for leading the “IREAD (Investing in Rural Education and Development) Project that focuses on improving the literacy standards of the Rarieda sub-county region. The project’s mobile community library and adult education has led to the graduation of 267 adult learners. Providing solar power to previously unlit communities and reproductive health programming has improved girls’ school attendance by 100%. “Literacy is about instilling a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. I am committed to building a community where the transformative power of literacy enriches the lives of all its members,” remarked Okinda.

Jeska Washington, Executive Director, Literacy Non-Profit, Nyamata, Rwanda shares the Grand Prize for her project “The Inzozi Center.” Inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise,” and the power of words inspired Washington to create The Inzozi Center to address the crucial need for English proficiency. In less than one year, attendance from 3 cities and hundreds of villages has surged to over 300 children daily. The Inzozi Center (inzozi means dream in Kinyarwanda) partners with local schools and includes the only public library, The Dream Big Library housing over 3,000 books with a library coach, movie screenings and diverse book clubs. Washington says, “The Inzozi Center is a beacon of hope and transformation in our rural community, shaping a future where literacy and passion for learning are at the forefront of young minds.”

Marie-Martine Yobol-Njonga, Literacy Non-Profit, Yaounde, Cameroon shares the Grand Prize for her program, “One Classroom, One Library” that installs small yet curated library cabinets in rural school classrooms across Cameroon. Her entire professional career has been devoted to developing literacy in rural areas, with a dual emphasis on developing adult and children’s literacy. Prior to her initiative, less than 8% of schools in rural areas had a library. In less than 10 years, Yobol-Njonga has set up classroom libraries in 149 schools with 61,000 books. She has trained 80 teachers, reaching nearly 41,000 students. According to Nathalie Tekam, founder, GetReady.org, “the impact of her work in terms of promoting reading in both urban and rural areas, in a context where reading is considered an elitist activity, is indisputable at a national scale.” From Victor Hugo, Yobol-Njonga dedicates her life-work with this thought: “Whoever you are, who wants to cultivate, invigorate, tenderize, soothe… put books everywhere.”

Judith’s Award

Amy Allison, English teacher, The Delta Program, State College, Pennsylvania, wins the coveted ‘Judith’s Award’ and $1,500 for her project, “Advocacy for Teens Class,” that teaches teens how to appropriately engage in civic and cultural literacy by first learning about State College’s local
library as a foundation for how to advocate for an issue. Students are guided and scaffolded for their first project, ‘Representing the Library,’ at their local township meeting. The process for this project includes researching their topic, preparing a timeline, interviewing stakeholders, observing the environment, and writing a proposal. “I feel it is my duty as a teacher to aid students in learning how to navigate our world, understand our cultural literacy and advocate for themselves and others,” said Allison. The ‘Judith’s Award’ was designated in 2019 to honor an applicant who best mirrors the intentions, the dreams, the insistence, the passion of Judith F. Krug, in whose name Judith’s Reading Room was established.

Board Option Award Winners

Patricia Baum, Librarian, Biblioteca Elena Poniatowska, Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, La Paz, Mexico. Patricia is recognized for her multi-level project, “Building Bridges to Literacy” at the largest bilingual library in the state of Baja California Sur. Established in 2003, the library is named after the illustrious Mexican author Elena Poniatowska whose belief in the universal right to literacy has influenced the library’s collection to include works of famous Mexican authors. “Building Bridges to Literacy” includes a ladder of initiatives, but the one the judges singled out is “Youth Poetry Mentoring,” that offers high school students a view of the world through poetry, mentored by a local poet. “Literature is the bridge that connects
us to the tapestry of human experience, both locally and globally,” stated Baum. For her work to enrich lives through poetry, Baum is awarded a $200 Board Option prize.

Alicia Dal Pra, bilingual children’s book author, Ardsley, New York. Alicia, a native of Caracas, Venezuela is honored for her book, Somos Ninos, Nos Vamos de Safari, a beautifully illustrated and highly educational children’s book about the hippopotamus that shows children a different way to
learn a new language. Dal Pra’s bilingual book provides a parallel vocabulary in Spanish and English, is accompanied by a Somos Ninos Podcast, and can be used as a tool for classroom projects. “I want to keep offering to Hispanic families around the world quality content not just for children but for families as well,” commented Dal Pra. For her inspiring book, Dal Pra is awarded a $200 Board Option prize.

Victor Owuor, Teacher, The Sunflower Trust, Nairobi, Kenya, is saluted for his unflagging literacy efforts with the project, “Pages of Progress,” a leadership development initiative in Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya. The project goes beyond the conventional boundaries of education — it gives anchor
to a sense of community in one of the world’s largest shanty- towns. Parents, inspired by the progress of their daughters, actively participate in reading clubs and storytelling sessions. The library is fostering a culture where families come together to share the joy of reading. Owuor says, “I see literacy as a collaborative effort, involving educators, communities and policymakers working together to create environments where the seeds of literacy can flourish.” Owuor is awarded a $200 Board Option prize.

Honorable Mentions

Stephanie Keiper, a proponent of literacy, Easton, Pennsylvania where she volunteers at the National Canal Museum. Stephanie is noticed for her creative approach to bringing a manuscript — One Tooth Hilda — to life. Keiper acts it out to the delight of hundreds of visitors each weekend
during the season. Her engaging approach teaches the story of America’s historic towpath canals, one of the first industrial sites in America and a crucible of the American Industrial Revolution. “I believe that you have to feel what you are reading. You should be able to envision the scenes
line by line,” noted Keiper.

Pamela Laskin, poet, director CCNY’s Poetry Outreach Center, New York City is recognized for her 20 year tenure and unrelenting dedication to offer skills to young people so that they may give voice through poetry. Under Laskin’s direction, CCNY’s Poetry Outreach Center sends trained poetry
mentors into schools to empower students first to express their feelings, to learn how to read poetry, then how to write a poem.“The core foundation of Poetry Outreach is to help young minds to use their voices to tell their stories. The goal is to hear their voices,” remarked Laskin.

Seraphin Niyonsenga, literacy ‘hobbyist,’ Kigali, Rwanda and Veterinarian by profession is acknowledged for his project “Expansion and Refurbishment of Kanzenze Little Free Library,” Kigali, Rwanda. Niyonsenga established the first-ever Little Free Library in Rwanda, replicating a best practice he learned while a Fulbright exchange scholar at the University of California, Davis in 2017. Inspired by his own experience growing up in poverty with only a book as a source of entertainment, he founded the Kanzenze Little Free Library in 2018 to allow children and adults from poor rural communities to borrow and return books for free. “Since kids are known in the neighborhood, they have all the incentives to return the books,” stated Niyonsenga.

Erin Roman, English teacher at ProJeCt of Easton, Easton, Pennsylvania is honored for her commitment to teaching adult education at this Easton institution that helps break the intergenerational cycle of low literacy. Roman understands that adult students are motivated to learn English because of need, while recognizing that they have many outside barriers that affect their learning, even attendance at school. They arrive at ProJeCt with low self-esteem and even shame owing mainly to family histories of low literacy. “My job is to not only change that mentality but to teach them that they have potential and the ability to succeed. They come in seeking education, support, food; they leave with so much more,” noted Roman.

 

Judith’s Reading Room, a global literacy nonprofit, was founded in 2010 in the memory of the founder’s first cousin, Judith F. Krug, Director for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association. The organization’s mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy. To date the organization has established 106 libraries, 23 countries with over 133,000 books donated worth $1.4 million.

The Freedom Through Literacy Award has disbursed $58,600 to 71 champions of literacy, from 18 countries and 11 states in the USA. Applications for the 2025 Freedom Through Literacy Award will be available on October 7, 2024 at www.judithsreadingroom.org. Deadline for submissions for the 11th annual Freedom Through Literacy Award is February 3, 2025.

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The Outstanding Service Award

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CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

 

Judith’s Reading Room Announces Its Latest Award

“The Outstanding Service Award”

February 15, 2024 — In recognition of the outstanding collaborations and volunteer service to fulfill and exceed the mission of Judith’s Reading Room, it was announced today that members of the public and service providers will be gratefully acknowledged throughout the years.

Non-profit organizations, like Judith’s Reading Room, that do not have budgets for paid staff must rely on the self-less contributions of volunteer members of the board of directors and for others who step up to expand the communications efforts in a complicated world where good news is often ignored by local and national media.

In recognition of Outstanding Service to Judith’s Reading Room, the organization wishes to acknowledge its first recipient:

*  Ms. Joellen Reichenbach, owner, Select Sales – Creative Marketing Solutions, Asheville, NC for spreading the word about the 2024 ‘Freedom Through Literacy Award” by engaging with all public libraries and school districts in the Asheville, NC area.

Judith’s Reading Room, a 501 (c) 3 organization based in Pennsylvania was founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, cousin to the founders, and a distinguished librarian with a 40 year career at the American Library Association as its Director for Intellectual Freedom.  To date, Judith’s Reading Room has established 106 libraries in 23 countries with over 133,000 donated books valued at $1.4 million.  It’s signature annual “Freedom Through Literacy Award,’ now in its 10th year, acknowledges champions of literacy from around the world.  Cash prizes in the amount of $58,500 have been distributed to 71 champions of literacy from 18 countries.

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Reading for Fun at ‘Harkins House’ Builds Resilience

NEWS RELEASE 
CONTACT:  Cathy Leiber

Literacy is a Significant Protective Factor for At-Risk Youth
— Reading for Fun at ‘Harkins House’ Builds Resilience —

9 May 2023 — 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.

Today’s donation of 46 books curated by Harkins House staff is intended to provide books for fun for youth impacted by the Juvenile Justice System residing at ‘Harkins House’ in Hillsboro, Oregon. The donation is part of Judith’s Reading Room’s ongoing efforts to support the education and mental health of young people around the world.

The books cover a wide range of genres, from adventure and mystery to science fiction, and were carefully selected by Harkins House staff affirming that reading for fun can be a powerful tool to help young people navigate difficult times and build resilience.

“Research shows that reading for pleasure can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. Our hope is that these books will provide a source of comfort, escape, and inspiration for the youth,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.

Judith’s Reading Room has donated a total of 581 books worth over $7,000 to Washington County Juvenile Detention Center’s ‘Harkins House,’ an organization that provides a range of services, including counseling, support groups, and mentorship, to help young people overcome challenges such as addiction, trauma, and family issues.

“We are thrilled to receive this generous donation from Judith’s Reading Room,” said Martha Villegas, Juvenile Service Supervisor. “Reading can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and personal growth, and we know that these books will be a valuable addition to our programs,” she added.

Judith’s Reading Room was established in 2010 in the memory of the founders’ first cousin, Judith F. Krug, a librarian and Director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.  Its mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.  Its signature event, the annual Freedom Through Literacy Award honors teachers, authors, and librarians who have done exemplary work to instill in others a love of reading.   To date, the organization has dedicated 105 libraries in 23 countries, serving tens of thousands of children and adults with more than 132,000 books donated worth more than $1.4 million. To learn more, visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.

Thank you so much for stopping by we appreciate your support and taking the time to fly out to meet with staff and youth. Today I came to work and had youths handing me names of books to keep in mind for next time you are out, which say’s a lot about their enthusiasm of reading. These are youth who report never picking up a book to read for fun in their life.

Continue the good work! We look forward to fostering an ongoing partnership with “Judith’s Reading Room”. We have many ideas so we hope to apply for your grant/prize next year to support specific books that we can use in youth programming at Harkins House.

Martha Villegas
Juvenile Service Supervisor 

Winners of 2023 “Freedom Through Literacy Award.”

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org


Author who helps kids bring their biggest ideas to life wins

 2023 “Freedom Through Literacy Award” Grand Prize


February 13, 2023 — Judith’s Reading Room, a global nonprofit literacy organization founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian, is pleased to announce the winners of its 9th annual “Freedom Through Literacy Award.”  The judges declared eight (8) champions of literacy with a combined financial award of $5,000.


“The organization’s global footprint expanded in 2023 thanks to the number of applications received from the U.S. and abroad,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.


2023 Grand Prize Winner


The $2,500 Grand Prize goes to award-winning children’s book author Ty Jackson for his youth financial literacy project:  “The Danny Dollar Entrepreneur Fair,” Fresno, California.  Ty, a previous winner of the coveted Judith’s Award, developed a creative program based on his book, Make Your Own Money:  How Kids Can Earn It, Save It, Spend It, and Dream Big.   The Danny Dollar Entrepreneur Fair premiered in 2022 in Pittsfield, MA where 300 fifth graders read his book and learned how they could start making, saving and spending money now. This program is successful because it makes reading fun and empowers kids to bring their ideas into the world.


“Ty teaches entrepreneurship to kids and in doing so, he is practicing what he preaches,” said Scott Leiber, co-founder, Judith’s Reading Room.  Ty hopes to expand the Entrepreneur Fair across the country.  He would love to hear from educators who would like to implement the program.  Reach out to rachael@bigheadbooks.com to find out more.


2023 Judith’s Award Winner


The $1,500 Judith’s Award winner is Amber Drinen for “R.E.A.D. in Beauty Bookmobile” project, an initiative of Chinle Planting Hope in Chinle, Arizona, a Native-controlled nonprofit that supervises the Bookmobile which serves 34,000 members of the Navajo Nation, where there is no public library.


There is great excitement about the Bookmobile, according to David Goldberg, MD, who notes in his letter of reference, “There is an ambitious, thoughtful plan to bring books and library programing to the communities surrounding Chinle.  Lives are about to be enriched; memories will be formed; and sparks of wonder are in the offing.” For example, Bookmobile staff provide assistance with laptops, internet and STEM activities while maintaining the on-board library of 10,000 catalogued books for children K-12.


Drinen adds, “Children must experience the joy of a good story and what it means to lose yourself in the pages. Reading gives simple breaks in our ordinary lives and helps us dream of more.”


2023 Board Option Award Winners


Victor Owuor, after -school program coordinator, the Sunflower Trust, Nairobi, Kenya for his project, “Pathway to Alternative Learning Education (PALE).”  As World Literacy Ambassador since 2022 representing Kenya, Victor understands what it means when one lacks resources to attend school:  He was born and bred in the informal settlement of Kibera slum, Nairobi.  Sunflower Trust works in partnership with community schools to identify girls, in the fifth grade, who are at risk of ending their education early and transitions them to the after-school, part-time PALE program.  At PALE, literacy groups help the girls develop critical thinking, communication and reasoning skills.  Sunflower is also committed to involving parents and caregivers through focus groups and one-on-one meetings.   The girls are challenged to write their own books which has encouraged them to read a variety of books to borrow ideas for their own stories.  “Literacy as leadership and a form of justice is at the core of our programming,” said Owuor.  He added, “while there are many literate youths in the world, there are few who are truly freely literate — whose voices are heard, whose opinions and beliefs are listened to and honored, and who have the ability to fully express themselves and be who they want to be.”  For his dedication to changing lives one at a time, Judith’s Reading Room awards Victor with a USD$400 Board Option Prize.


Colin Bloom, 16 year-old New York City high school student and founder of a literacy nonprofit for his project, “Creating a Library for Literacy at the Senianya Primary School in Mpumalanga, South Africa.”  Colin is a standout on multiple levels:  as a teenager, he established a nonprofit, Libraries for Literacy, has dedicated two libraries in impoverished rural South Africa, has assertively insinuated himself into partnerships with global entities, and has shown tenacity, drive, entrepreneurship, compassion and a desire to learn and improve from each experience.  As Colin points out, “Learning to read without books is like learning to play soccer without a ball, impossible but relevant to many South African kids who are expected to become literate without access to books.”  For his spirited determination to use his life to work towards the goal in which all children have access to a good education, Judith’s Reading Room awards Colin with a USD$200 Board Option Prize.


Evangelia Ritzaleou, award-winning high school teacher, Drama, Greece for her project, “School Reading and Creative Writing Club.”  Evangelia knows what she is talking about when she documents the effects of book clubs on kids — she has, after all, headed up a Reading and Creative Writing Club at her school for 15 years.  Her efforts have resulted in kids feeling that they are “equal” members of a club, and with this new-found confidence, they become effective speakers, writers, critical thinkers, listeners and communicators.  Evangelia has expanded her school library from 20 books to 530 and boasts that her school library serves not only as a place for reading and writing but also as a refuge for introverted kids.
She says, “Joining a Reading and Creative Writing Club is a path from literacy to critical literacy and that lifelong readers have the culture of reading instead of being addicted to social media.”  For her passionate commitment to enriching the lives of high school children through the beauty of a book club, Judith’s Reading Room awards Evangelia a USD$200 Board Option Prize.

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.  Laskin says, “books have been written about children with special needs, but what makes my project innovative and creative is that the books are written from the point of view of the young people who ARE differently-abled.”  Through her work, this diverse population will no longer be marginalized.  For her insistence in presenting differently-abled people, she is helping establish human dignity with a focus on what can be done, not what can’t, Judith’s Reading Room awards Pamela with a USD$200 Board Option Prize.




Honorable Mentions


Cynthia Jacobsen, Ph.D. Speech Pathologist and Researcher, Longmont, Colorado for her life-work project, “Rhyming to Reading:  Early Literacy Curriculum.”  Dr. Jacobsen, co-authored Rhyming to Reading, an early literacy program for children 4-7 whose goal was to create a program to help young children learn skills that are highly predictive of early reading success. Thousands of children participated in the group classes at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics for 20 years prior to the COVID pandemic.  Dr. Jacobsen collected evidenced based outcomes and clinical data to develop the program.    She says, “Literacy instruction must be evidenced-based, with methods which are known to help children.”  For her life-time devotion to helping children and families learn methods to overcome literacy challenges such as dyslexia, Judith’s Reading Room wishes to give Dr. Jacobsen global recognition through an Honorable Mention.


Joseph Tsongo, Coordinator, Amani Academy, Goma, North-Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, for his project, “Amani Academy for Peace Literacy.”  Born in the middle of war in 1994 in the province of North Kivu, Joseph challenged himself to inspire young people to rebuild, despite the traumatic ordeals they were facing on a daily basis.  Since 2016, he has organized resilience and community building activities to promote a culture of active non-violence.  Through the Amani Academy, which he initiated in 2018, he introduces children to the basics of reading.  In 2022, Joseph was named a 2022 Mandela Washington Fellow, a program of the U.S. State Department.  For his determination to foster literacy and peace in the context of violent conflict, Judith’s Reading Room proudly recognizes Joseph Tsongo as a Freedom Through Literacy Award Honorable Mention.


Judith’s Reading Room


Judith’s Reading Room’s mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging Freedom Through Literacy.  To date, the organization has fulfilled that mission by establishing 105 libraries (and counting!) in 23 countries with more than 132,000 books donated worth $1.42 million dollars.


The “Freedom Through Literacy Award” was initiated in 2015 as the organization’s signature event.  Including the 2023 winners, the organization has disbursed $53,500 in cash awards to 60 champions of literacy.  Winners hail from 17 countries:  Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Greece, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, South Africa, the United States of America and Zimbabwe.  Winners come from 11 U.S. states:  Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.


To learn more about Judith’s Reading Room and its full array of literacy awards, visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.


— END —

Generous Pennsylvanians Applauded for Donating Books to Children in Need

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.

Camel Library on the move!

Camel drivers, outfitted with custom-made book pouches will travel to the least populated region in southwestern Pakistan. Basarat Kazim is named a 2020 Freedom Through Literacy Board Option prize winner for her mobile Camel Library for Kech Balochistan.

We cannot get enough of the new Camel Library. Here we have the camel on the move, on the way to their library destination.

Library destination reached! It is book selection and checkout time. This brings a new meaning to surreal, at least in terms of libraries.

Library destination reached! Books selected & checked out. Now it is story time – no description needed – the video tells it all! What a way to explain the impact that Basarat Kazim partnership with Judith Reading Room has!

Please also read the recent story in the Arab News-Pakistan Mobile camel library carries books to children in remote Pakistani villages

In addition, Basarat just received books donated via Barnes & Noble (Wyomissing, PA) @BNReadingPA  holiday drive featuring Judith’s Reading Room as their 2020 Holiday Charity.

Dear Cathy,

My share of excitement just arrived!! Simply love the early readers Barnes & Noble donated to honour the work of Judith’s Reading Room. The children will be absolutely fascinated.

Thank you so much.

Best always,
Basarat

Learn more about Basarat Kazim and her latest Freedom Through Literacy Award

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