Library of Congress Announces Winners of 2019 Literacy Awards

Library of Congress Announces Winners of 2019 Literacy Awards

News from the Library of Congress: 8.29.2019

Three organizations working to expand literacy and promote reading in the United States and worldwide will be awarded the 2019 Library of Congress Literacy Awards at the National Book Festival gala, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today.

Hayden and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein will award the top prizes to: ProLiteracy Worldwide of Syracuse, New York; American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults of Baltimore; and ConTextos of Chicago.

The Literacy Awards, originated by Rubenstein in 2013, honor organizations doing exemplary, innovative and replicable work. They spotlight the need for communities worldwide to unite in working for universal literacy.

“Literacy is the ticket to learning, opportunity and empowerment on a global scale,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “Through the generosity of David M. Rubenstein, the Library of Congress is proud to honor and celebrate the achievements of these extraordinary organizations in their efforts to advance reading levels and give people the foundation for a better life.”

Prizes and Recipients

David M. Rubenstein Prize ($150,000)

ProLiteracy Worldwide, Syracuse, New York
ProLiteracy Worldwide advances and supports programs to help adults acquire literacy skills needed to function more effectively in their daily lives. It has 1,000 member programs across 50 states and works with 30 partners in 25 countries to provide a wide range of adult literacy and basic education services to vulnerable populations.

American Prize ($50,000)

American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, Baltimore
Established in 1919, the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is a service agency that assists blind and deaf-blind persons in securing reading matter, educates the public about blindness, provides specialized aids and appliances to the blind, gives consultation to governmental and private agencies serving the blind, offers assistance to those losing vision in their later years, offers services to blind children and their parents, and works toward improving the quality of life for the blind and deaf-blind.

International Prize ($50,000)

ConTextos, Chicago
ConTextos brings literacy to schools, prisons and communities in El Salvador via two programs: Soy Lector (I’m a Reader) and Soy Autor (I’m an author). The Soy Lector Program trains local community members and teachers to develop libraries to encourage reading and the discussion of ideas in the community and schools. The Soy Autor Program encourages youth affected by violence to write their memoirs.

The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program is also honoring 15 organizations for their implementation of best practices in literacy promotion. These best practice honorees are:

Bring Me a Book, Redwood City, California

The Conscious Connect, Springfield, Ohio

Friends of Matènwa, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Hartford Public Library, Hartford, Connecticut

The Jane Stern Dorado Community Library, Dorado, Puerto Rico

Literacy for Incarcerated Teens, New York City

LitWorld International Inc., New York City

Meridian Library District, Meridian, Idaho

Nal'ibali Trust, Cape Town, South Africa

One World Education, Washington, D.C.

The PEN/Faulkner Foundation, Washington, D.C.

Razia’s Ray of Hope, Wellesley, Massachusetts

Ready for Reading, Dorset, Vermont

Riecken Community Libraries, Washington, D.C.

Western Massachusetts Writing Project, Amherst, Massachusetts

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