Judith's Reading Room Wins American Library Association Grant

The American Library Association (ALA) recently named Judith’s Reading Room as one of eight recipients of this year’s Krug Fund Grant in support of Banned Books Week.

To celebrate, will sponsor Flash Mob Read-Outs of 30 years of banned books at at three universities: Lafayette College in Easton, Villanova University and the University of Southern California (USC) in October.

At Lafayette College, Alan Gribben, editor of the recently-published expurgated versions of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” will be the featured speaker at Skillman Library on Oct. 3.

Judith’s Reading Room provides custom libraries to nonprofit organizations that serve people who, for any reason, have limited or no access to literature. The organization was established in 2010 to honor the memory of Judith F. Krug, a champion of the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech.

“Judith’s Reading Room is exceptionally proud to be named a winner of the Krug Fund grant,” said Scott Leiber, president of the organization's board of directors. “Judith’s Reading Room is our interpretation of spreading the word of freedom through literacy, by delivering custom libraries free of cost with the goal to enrich lives through the simple act of reading.”

Since its establishment, Judith’s Reading Room has donated 23 custom-designed mobile libraries and eight permanent ones in five states and in four countries, containing 33,000 books valued at more than $360,000.

In 2011, the organization was named the top award winner in the Wells Fargo volunteer service award program out of a competitive field of 500 nationwide nonprofit organizations. More recently, it was also awarded grants by The Donley Foundation and The Rider-Pool Fund.

Banned Books Week, which will take place Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, celebrates the freedom to access information, while drawing attention to the harms of censorship.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week.