A BOOST TO THE IMAGINATION

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library grows by leaps and bounds locally


Below, Jenna Ambrose enjoys her books from the Halifax County Imagination Library. Above, Colleen Barnes, local chapter president, poses with plaque in honor of those who donated to Patrons of the Page.

The Halifax County chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has much to celebrate as the organization reaches a growing number of children in its second year.

Created by the beloved entertainer in 1995, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is an early childhood literacy program dedicated to giving children a free book every month from birth until their fifth birthday, regardless of family income.

In Halifax County, the Imagination Library is expanding after getting its start in the midst of a pandemic — a challenge that only served to underscore the importance of its mission to foster childhood literacy.

Said Colleen Barnes, the organization’s president: “We are so lucky to be in a more stable place with the organization than we were in 2020-21, during the fundraising and establishment phase.”

Recently, the Halifax County chapter received a $5,000 grant from Sentara Healthcare, money that was used to purchase more books for local children. A fundraising campaign called “Patrons of the Page” also concluded in May for those wishing to make donations to the group.

Regarding grants and donations received by the Imagination Library, Barnes said, “Any supplies we need for promotions or events are purchased out of pocket by board members, because our mission is simple. The more money we have, the more books we can send out.”

As an educator, Barnes explained what the Imagination Library means to her and her fellow board members who are also educators: “We all know well the implications of early childhood literacy on success later in life. I hope this program encourages reading within families and builds community support for literacy. Plus, the Imagination Library books are fun.

“I hope that everyone, regardless of age, experiences the thrill of reading a good story. Reading is one of the great loves of my life and I wish the same joy for every family,” she said.

Since the organization started fundraising in the middle of 2020 amidst the pandemic, opportunities for large community events held by the Imagination Library in Halifax have been limited.

However, the organization has found different ways to connect with families and inspire children to read. In the past two years, the Imagination Library has hosted an annual “Gift a Year of Reading” initiative around the holidays where people could sponsor a child for a year for $25. People could also name a sponsorship in honor or in memory of a loved one, according to Barnes.

She said the group has received many heartfelt notes with the donations, with stories shared by parents, teachers, and children about how their love of reading started.

Barnes also pointed to a Summer Reading Guide that was published earlier this year by the county chapter — encouraging families to engage in summer reading together. The guide was posted on the organization’s social media pages, giving recommendations for children and adult readers.

“I would love to see this program continue to grow. According to recent census data, there are more than 1,000 children under the age of five in our county, and it would be fabulous if they were all registered,” said Barnes.

At the moment, there are 496 children in Halifax County receiving books through this program.

Barnes spoke on enrollment and the organization’s future: “The numbers fluctuate a little month-to-month as kids age out or are registered, but we have served over 400 children consistently, and that’s something that we’re really proud of.”

The organization has contacted local preschools and provided them with registration forms for any children interested in the program, she noted.

For more on how to get your child registered, visit imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/.

Since its founding by the country music singer and actress, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has provided a total of 186,680,257 books to children in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and Australia. The children enrolled receive a free book every month until they reach the age of five.

 

 

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