LEH’s Prime Time Receives Library of Congress Award

The Library of Congress has selected Prime Time as its 2025 Literacy Awards American Prize recipient. 

The American Prize is awarded to an organization based in the United States for making a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in the U.S. or the national awareness of the importance of literacy. Started in 1991 by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Prime Time’s core programs bring families together for reading and discussion sessions based on award-winning children’s books that promote literacy and critical thinking and equip parents and caregivers with the skills they need to continue to use books as a learning tool at home. 

By working with local schools, libraries, and community organizations, Prime Time impacts more than 2,000 families across Louisiana each year. A national affiliate network furthers the program’s reach, bringing families together across the U.S. in Nebraska, Washington, Kentucky, Georgia, New Jersey, Delaware and Florida. 

The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program recognizes organizations in the United States and abroad that provide exemplary, innovative, sustainable, and replicable strategies to promote literacy and reading. The program was established by the Library of Congress in 2013 and is generously supported by philanthropist David M. Rubenstein since 2013, and by the Kislak Family Foundation since 2023. The American Prize includes a $50,000 award to strengthen involvement in literacy and reading promotion and to encourage collaboration with like-minded organizations. 

In addition to its family reading programs, Prime Time offers parent workshops, teacher professional developments, take-home boxes of books and learning activities for families, and a podcast. 

Prime Time will be recognized by the Library of Congress at an event in Washington, D.C., in October.