{"id":212913,"date":"2025-03-28T12:44:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T22:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=212913"},"modified":"2025-03-28T12:44:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T22:44:10","slug":"the-reading-room-libraries-literacy-local-voices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/28\/the-reading-room-libraries-literacy-local-voices\/","title":{"rendered":"The Reading Room\u2019s expanding reach: libraries, literacy, local voices"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Three
From left: Ann Inoshita with Natalie Kahn and Junie Hayashi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Reading Room<\/em><\/a>—a series of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> author interviews produced by the Leeward Community College Educational Media Center\u2019s Video Production Unit has collaborated with the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Library Association (HLA<\/abbr>) to share the program’s impact and role in local literacy efforts.<\/p>\n

Since 2016, The Reading Room<\/em> has become a platform for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>‘s writers and poets to share their personal stories with a global audience. Created by Ann Inoshita, a Leeward CC<\/abbr> English professor, the initiative highlights the creative journeys of local authors, fostering community connections through literature.<\/p>\n

In an interview with HLA<\/abbr> members Junie Hayashi and Natalie Kahn, both librarians at Leeward CC<\/abbr>, Inoshita shared her reflections on the program. The interview is now available on the HLA<\/abbr> Youtube channel<\/a> ahead of two upcoming awareness events in April: National Library Week and National Poetry Month.<\/p>\n

“Libraries are a space where stories are shared, and the community is encouraged to value their unique voices,” said Inoshita. “Collaboration with the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Library Association raises awareness of The Reading Room<\/em> to promote literacy and writing for everyone.”<\/p>\n