Children in Adams County will soon be able to participate in the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. The literacy program, founded in 1995 by Dolly Parton, allows participating children to receive one book every month by mail up to the age of five. It is free to participate in the program.
While it is free to participate, the local Imagination Library program is made possible by the sponsorship of the Adams Health Foundation and Berne Ready Mix. These organizations have provided significant funding to launch the program locally. Currently, the State of Indiana is covering fifty percent of the cost to run each local program as a commitment to increasing literacy skills in children.
“We are excited to partner together in this endeavor. Literacy is a vital cornerstone of health and wellness for all individuals, particularly for children. Committing just 30 minutes a day to reading can significantly enhance overall well-being and quality of life.” — Kim Trombley, Adams Health Foundation Executive Director
Adams Public Library director Kelly Ehinger emphasizes the importance of reading and developing literacy skills at a young age. “Having access to age-appropriate books for young children is vitally important to developing literacy skills. This program helps foster a love of reading and learning and we could not do it without the help of the Adams Health Foundation and Berne Ready Mix.”
Kristen Dee, the director of the Berne Public Library, agrees, “Literacy is the foundation of all learning. Getting books in the hands of children during the preschool years when they are growing and developing quickly is so important. We are excited to bring this program back to our county, and to help our youngest readers grow their own library at home!”
Books are selected by a team of experts in early childhood literacy through the Dollywood Foundation. They are age appropriate from birth to five years of age. “A love of books and reading offers the foundation for literacy skills that set children up for future success. Encouraging increased interaction with children and their caregivers around books and reading strengthens their bond and promotes positive brain development,” says Katie Mullins, Community Engagement Coordinator, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana.
Registration is online at https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/ or at any public library in Adams County.
The local coordinating committee includes representatives from the libraries in Adams County, the Adams County Community Foundation, and the United Way of Adams County. The United Way acts as the fiscal agent of the local program.
For more information, contact Children’s Librarian Bee Gray-Chemey or Kelly Ehinger at the Adams Public Library in Decatur at 260-724-2605, or Kristen Dee at the Berne Public Library at 260-589-2809.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Program Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to enrolled children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More®. The program has been widely researched and results demonstrate the positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
