Tag: Southaven

Judith’s Reading Room 99th Library Expansion

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NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org

Judith’s Reading Room Expands its Library at
Avery Chapel AME Church in Southaven, Mississippi 
Rev. Dr. Leoda Topps Credited with Instilling in Kids a Love of Reading

February 15, 2025 — In honor of Black History Month, Judith’s Reading Room announced that it expanded its library at Avery Chapel AME Church in Southaven, Mississippi.  The additional donation of books to our 99th Judith’s Reading Room library is a featured part of the organization’s bold initiative “15 Libraries to Celebrate Our 15th Anniversary in 2025.”   For this milestone event, Judith’s Reading Room’s board of directors voted to dedicate 15 new or enhanced eponymous libraries across the globe.  

Today, Avery Chapel AME Church inaugurated its enhanced collection of 103 children’s books with a cover price value of $1,042 that will serve 55 children and members of its suburban community near Memphis, TN.  Rev. Dr. Leoda Topps of Avery Chapel AME Church specifically asked for books for all ages and abilities.   As Dr. Topps put it, “None of the children should be left out.”

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In 2020, Judith’s Reading Room dedicated its 99th named library at Avery Chapel Church with a collection of 73 books. The organization has maintained a close relationship with Pastor Topps ever since.  A Ph.D. in Education, she tutors children after school with their homework and spends time reading aloud.  She says that many children come from single parent homes with multiple children and the mom doesn’t get to spend time reading with her children.  This is where she, Dr. Topps, steps in and is credited with instilling in children a love of reading.

“Judith’s Reading Room is focused on donating books around the world that feature diverse characters and relatable stories that help children see themselves in a positive light,” said Cathy Leiber, President, Judith’s Reading Room.  Adding, “ Pastor Topps is a perfect example of a community librarian:  she connects her community to the power of knowledge and imagination through books and she steadfastly believes that an empowered and literate community is a healthy community.  Dr. Topps is a local hero.”

15 Libraries to Celebrate Organization’s 15th Anniversary in 2025— Dedication Dates

  1. Bright School/TEACH Rwanda, Muhanga, Rwanda — Dedicated Jan. 7 
  2. Escuela Agustin Flores Contreras, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — Dedicated Jan. 15
  3. Read for Literacy, “Real Men READ-y”, Toledo, Ohio — Dedicated Feb. 3 – JRR Library #109
  4. Avery Chapel AME Church, Southaven, Mississippi — Dedicated Feb. 15
  5. Watch Me Grow Learning Academy, Grenada, MS — Dedicated Feb. 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 County Juvenile Detention Center, Harkins House, Portland, Oregon – April 4
  9. Heavy Sound, Edinburgh, Scotland – May 30
  10. James Prendergast Free Library, Jamestown, New York – July 31
  11. Kirioruwa School, Marabedda, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka — TBA
  12. Vhulakanjhani Primary School, South Africa — TBA
  13. Chinle Planting Hope, Navajo Nation, Chinle, Arizona – November 1
  14. Janata Aadharbhut Vidhyalaya School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBA
  15. Shree Prasad Singh Ma. Vi School, Kathmandu, Nepal — TBA

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 110 eponymous libraries in 25 countries and 10 US states with more than 134,000 donated books at a cover price of $1.4 million.

To learn more about Judith’s Reading Room libraries, visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.

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99TH LIBRARY – Judith’s Reading Room Opens 2nd Library in Mississippi

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NEWS RELEASE 
CONTACT:  Cathy Leiber

Judith’s Reading Room Opens 2nd Library in Mississippi 
Organization Champions Literacy in Communities That Lack Books
 
February 24, 2020 — In celebration of Black History Month and the organization’s 10th Anniversary, Judith’s Reading Room dedicated its 99th library today — its 2nd in Mississippi — in collaboration with Rev. Dr. Leoda Topps, Ph.D, Education and Pastor at the Avery Chapel Church in Southaven, MS.
 
Judith’s Reading Room, a literacy nonprofit organization founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a librarian who dedicated her life to freedom of speech and access to books for all, has established libraries in 21 countries filled with over 128,000 books.
 
To celebrate the organization’s 10th Anniversary, the Board of Directors allocated $5,000 to be divided amongst 10 of its “stand out” libraries.  Rev. Dr. Topps is one of the 10 to receive the organization’s special commemorative award.    Specifically, Judith’s Reading Room purchased 73 books for its 99th library.
 
In 2014, Judith’s Reading Room teamed with Rev. Dr. Topps to deliver more than 700 hand-picked children’s books to St. Peter’s AME Church in Tunica, MS, where Dr. Topps vowed to assist children after school with their homework and to help improve their reading skills.  That donation became our 86th Judith’s Reading Room Library.  
 
Rev. Dr. Topps said, “I’ve reached out to a preacher at one of my sister churches to help pull in community children to visit the new library at Avery Chapel Church.” She added, “As a newcomer to Southaven, I have found that many of the children come from single-parent homes with multiple children and the mothers’ work schedules don’t allow them to spend much time reading to their children.  This is where the church can step in to help.”  
 
Judith’s Reading Room’s mission is to enrich lives and societies by proactively encouraging freedom through literacy.  In the ten years since its founding, Judith’s Reading Room has established 99 libraries in 21 countries filled with 128,000 books valued at nearly $1.4 million.  The Freedom Through Literacy Award, initiated in 2015, has disbursed $33,500 in prize money, honoring 31 individual champions of literacy in the United States, the Philippines, Bhutan, Pakistan, Rwanda, Cambodia, Mexico, Australia, Zimbabwe and Greece.

Applications for the 2020 Freedom Through Literacy Award may be found at Judith’s Reading Room Freedom Through Literacy.  The deadline for receipt of completed applications is July 1st.  Winners will be announced by the end of July.

10th Anniversary ‘Stand Out’ Library – Avery Chapel Church

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To celebrate the Judith’s Reading Room’s 10th Anniversary, the Board of Directors allocated $5,000 to be divided amongst 10 of its “stand out” libraries.  Rev. Dr. Topps is one of the 10 to receive the organization’s special commemorative award.    Specifically, Judith’s Reading Room purchased 73 books for its 99th library.

In 2014, Judith’s Reading Room teamed with Rev. Dr. Topps to deliver more than 700 hand-picked children’s books to St. Peter’s AME Church in Tunica, MS, where Dr. Topps vowed to assist children after school with their homework and to help improve their reading skills.  That donation became our 86th Judith’s Reading Room Library.  

 

Rev. Dr. Topps said, “I’ve reached out to a preacher at one of my sister churches to help pull in community children to visit the new library at Avery Chapel Church.” She added, “As a newcomer to Southaven, I have found that many of the children come from single-parent homes with multiple children and the mothers’ work schedules don’t allow them to spend much time reading to their children.  This is where the church can step in to help.”  

 

On February 24, 2020 — in celebration of Black History Month and the organization’s 10th Anniversary, Judith’s Reading Room dedicated its 99th library today — its 2nd in Mississippi — in collaboration with Rev. Dr. Leoda Topps, Ph.D, Education and Pastor at the Avery Chapel Church in Southaven, MS.

 The 10 Judith’s Reading Room ‘Stand Out’ libraries are:

“By supporting the good work of others, we aspire to share and celebrate people who are doing genuinely astonishing work, instilling in others a love of reading,” said Scott Leiber, Co-Founder of Judith’s Reading Room.

In addition to libraries, Judith’s Reading Room holds an annual competition for the “Freedom Through Literacy Award.”  Initiated in 2015, Judith’s Reading Room has disbursed $33,500 in prize money, honoring 31 individual champions of literacy in the United States, the Philippines, Bhutan, Pakistan, Rwanda, Cambodia, Mexico, Australia, Zimbabwe and Greece.

Applications for the 2020 Freedom Through Literacy Award may be found at www.judithsreadingroom.org/freedom-through-literacy-award/.  Deadline is July 1st.  Winners announced end of July. 

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