National Library Week: Celebrating Literacy and the Freedom to Read

As we close National Library Week, it’s the perfect time to spotlight our founder and president, Cloyette Harris-Stoute. This week, Ms. Harris-Stoute participated in a special story-time session at the St. Albans Public Library in her neighborhood. This marked her dedication to our cause and fostering literacy in the community.

Ms. Harris-Stoute read Maurice Sendak’s beloved and often controversial book, Where the Wild Things Are. Her selection was particularly poignant as the book appears on the list of challenged or banned books, emphasizing the importance of the freedom to read—a core value upheld by Queens Public Library and libraries nationwide.

This initiative highlights QPL’s commitment to promoting literacy and libraries’ essential role in providing open and free access to information. Ms. Harris-Stoute’s engagement with the children during story time helped bring the magical and sometimes misunderstood story to life, fostering a love for reading and encouraging open dialogue about storytelling and the themes within these tales.

We are incredibly proud of Ms. Harris-Stoute’s involvement and are inspired by her continuous efforts to impact her community positively. Her participation in events like these underscores the fundamental belief of the Guyanese Girls Rock Foundation: empowering through education and opening doors to new possibilities.