2024-2025 Celebrate Literacy Award Recipient

Posted: July 9, 2025

Kathy Murphy is the 2025 Iowa Reading Association’s “Celebrate Literacy” award recipient, given posthumously. Kathy was a passionate library advocate and champion of early literacy, with over 30 years of work at the Burlington Public Library. Most recently, she went out every month on behalf of the library to visit all 29 preschool classrooms and read to 450 wiggly, curious and excited 3- and 4-year-olds where she was affectionately known as “Miss Kathy”.

For decades Miss Kathy inspired a love of reading in Burlington’s children. She was well-loved by all and was a pillar of the community. Miss Kathy died on December 24, 2024 at the Southeast Regional Medical Center in West Burlington.

The Burlington Public Library issued a press release honoring Murphy’s impact that ended with a quote from A.A. Milne, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”. Even though Kathy is no longer with us, her work with these children will impact their lives forever. We should all strive to make such an impact.  (Heidi Stangl, a past co-president of the Iowa Reading Association, is the daughter of Kathy Murphy.)

An older woman with short gray hair and glasses sits smiling in front of a brown chair, wearing a patterned top with large floral designs.
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