What is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?

It sounds almost too simple to be true, but by reading regularly to children during their pre-school years, parents can give them the biggest boost towards a successful education they will ever get. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library helps parents of Warren County read to their children.

There are many reasons why parents do not read to their children…this program eliminates one of the major reasons…cost. In this program, each child will have books of their own, delivered monthly to their home address here in Warren County, FREE of charge to parents and/or caregivers.

Each month, a new, carefully selected quality book is mailed in the child’s name directly to his/her home. He/she can look forward to new and exciting reading adventures from the Imagination Library each month until he/she turns five years old as long as he/she remains a resident of Warren County. Any baby born this year and residing in Warren County is eligible to apply.

A 1991 study showed that parents who were given books by their doctors were four times more likely to read and share them with their children. Reading to a baby or child encourages him/her to associate reading with love and comfort, and helps promote a lifetime habit of reading. The report of the commission on reading states that “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” The key to proficiency in reading is to start early. This program allows parents to begin virtually the day he/she is born.

Our United Way partners with Healthy Families Warren County in providing this vital service to Warren County children. Healthy Families supplies the contacts and distributes the applications to Warren County parents through the Warren Memorial Hospital. In addition, Healthy Families helps identify at-risk families in the community who would most benefit from this free program.

The goal of this program in 2009 is to reach a total of 225 participants by December of 2009. Currently, in 2008, the Library is supplying books to 182 children monthly. This figure is up from 132 at the end of 2007.

Interacting with the environment is a key factor in determining the ease with which a child will learn to read. Your support of this program will encourage all Warren County’s children to associate reading with love and comfort. Please give generously to this Success by 6 project in your hometown. Together, we can make a difference!!!