Judith’s Reading Room was recently informed that it was one of seven $1,000 nationwide winners of the 2013 Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) grant in support of Banned Books Week events. Banned Books Week, which will take place September 22-30, 2013, celebrates the freedom to access information, while drawing attention to the harms of censorship.

“The quality of this year’s application was tremendous,” said FTRF Executive Director Barbara Jones. Judith’s Reading Room won for it’s submission titled, “Emotive Powers of Literature Celebrating Banned Books Through Dance.” Judith’s Reading Room will collaborate with Muhlenberg College on a dance performance focused on books banned or challenged in the U.S. in the last 31 years. This is the second consecutive grant for Judith’s Reading Room, which was established in 2010 in memory of Judith F. Krug.

Judith’s Reading Room promotes “Freedom Through Literacy” by providing books to those that do not have access to them. Since 2010, Judith’s Reading Room has established 50 libraries in eight countries and six states including two on board a Virginia-based aircraft carrier. Eighteen libraries are in the Lehigh Valley.