Hopewell: Children enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program get free books

HOPEWELL — Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is now available to Hopewell's wee ones. The program inspires a love of reading by gifting free books via mail to children from birth to age five. In 1995, inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Parton started her Imagination Library for kids within her home county in Tennessee. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over two million free books each month to children around the world. Over 200 million books have been gifted worldwide since the program began.

"We're super excited to bring the Imagination Library program to our local children in Hopewell. It is such an amazing program and from such an awesome woman," Sarah Finch, Youth Services Manager of Appomattox Regional Library System, said. "Jeff Butler is spearheading the program in this area, and we're happy to partner with him."

"Several months ago, Lynda Harrill, a volunteer for Imagination Library, called from the Charlottesville area asking if I'd be willing to help bring this program to Hopewell," Butler, pastor at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, said. "As I began to read about Dollywood Foundation's mission to provide children under age five an opportunity to receive a free book each month, I also learned about Virginia's commitment to support literacy as well."

“All kids need books in the home early in life,” Harrill, a statewide advocate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Virginia, said. “Books are essential for cognitive development that occurs before age three. Reading with young kids creates lifetime bonds with parents and siblings as well as a love of books.”

"The state of Virginia pays 50% for the shipping of any educational material for our young people. The Cameron Foundation, committed to education, stepped in to pay the other half of the shipping as well as the cost of the age-appropriate books," Butler said. "While each of us, I think, understands the importance of literacy development for youth of all ages, the Imagination Library has limited its focus to helping children under the age of five get a head start developing their brain waves before elementary school begins."

Last December, the Cameron Foundation partnered with affiliate Woodlawn Presbyterian Church and agreed to provide $42,000 over a five-year period, according to Butler. On March 7 this year, the state of Virginia had 70 affiliates. This morning, March 26, enrollment in the Commonwealth has reached 59, 155.

This year, Delegate Carrie E. Coyner carried House Bill 1075 to expand Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and it passed. "I’ve been working on legislation to improve early literacy in Virginia and this is a great way to start families focusing on literacy skills from birth," Coyner said.

"Over 1500 youngsters in Hopewell could qualify for this free program. We started enrollments the first week of February. Currently, we have 83 children enrolled," Butler said.

Dolly Parton: Imagination Library

The Imagination Library program, founded by Parton, a global superstar, businesswoman and philanthropist, has been transforming lives for over two decades by providing high-quality books to children. The books are selected each year by a panel of early childhood education experts.

Dollywood Foundation's flagship program partners with a local nonprofit organization that agrees to build awareness, enroll children and raise funds for books and postage. Each registered child receives one free book by mail each month addressed to them at no charge to the families. The Foundation covers all overhead and admin expenses, provides database support and coordinates monthly book order fulfillment.

"Having a home library is essential for the development of vocabulary and pre-reading skills," Harrill said. “All kids under five are eligible to enroll in geographical areas where there is an operating Imagination Library program. Many children lack access to books at home. The number of books in the home is one of the most reliable predictors of a child’s success in school and in life. Parton's program is part of the long-term solution to improve early childhood literacy for all kids in Virginia."

The first step at the local level is to find a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in each community to partner with the Dollywood Foundation. Woodlawn Presbyterian Church stepped up to be a local partner. Their next step is to form a Local Advisory Group composed of people from all over Hopewell to market, administer and raise funds for the program.

"I'm reaching out to groups who have regular contact with families with youngsters like Healthy Families. Their counselors present parents with an opportunity to sign up for the Imagination Library opportunity. We also partner directly with the Head Start Program" Butler said. "We've been attending community fairs as well as elementary school and Head Start events to hand out information cards."

Butler is developing a group of interested people in the community to help facilitate this program. "The Appomattox Regional Library, Woodlawn Learning Center, church members and civic group volunteers are beginning to meet with me for this implementation," Butler said.

"We're also working to get Dolly going in Dinwiddie and will start on Colonial Heights, Petersburg and Prince George soon. We want it all over Virginia," Harrill said. Nonprofits referred to as champions vary by community. Libraries, "friends" of libraries, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, churches, YMCAs, community foundations, private foundations, the United Way, Chamber of Commerce groups, school boards, literacy organizations and education foundations step up to help children enrolled from birth receive 60 different books by the time they officially age out of the program when they turn five.

On January 4 last year, the Junior Federated Women's Club of Chester became affiliates to provide free books to children under age five who reside in the 23234 zip code area. An Altria Group Give Together grant made it possible.

"The key is to find a champion who has a passion for early childhood literacy," Harrill said.

Parents, grandparents and guardians may register children online. Eligibility criteria for the Imagination Library is defined only in terms of a child's age and residence. Families with twins will enroll both children as one. The books range from lift-the-flap books to bilingual stories and classics. Braille books are available also. The books arrive in shrink-wrapped plastic with a note from Parton attached.

If you would like to help Butler with this community project, reach out to him at jeffb3812@gmail.com. For more information about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and to check the availability of the program in your area, visit imaginationlibrary.com. Follow Dolly Parton's Imagination Library on Facebook.

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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell children get free books: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library