what is the imagination library?

What is the Imagination Library?What is the Imagination Library?

Inspires a love of reading

Guarantees all children will have quality books in the home

A program about inspiration and imagination

Started in 1995 by Dolly Parton for the children in her hometown of Sevier County

In 2000 program went nationwide

How Does the Program Work?How Does the Program Work?

The Dollywood Foundation partners with communities willing to bring this gift to the children of their area

Children ages birth-5 who are registered with the program receive a free, age appropriate hard cover book each month from birth until the age of 5

Registration only requires the completion of a short one page registration form

The LibraryThe Library

Books are: New Hard Cover Age Appropriate Mailed directly to the Child in his/her name

First book = “Little Engine That Could”

Last Book = “Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come”

The first and last book includes a letter from Dolly!

Selection ProcessSelection Process

A blue chip panel of experts select all of the titles for the Library

The Library Committee is comprised of educators, child development experts, and early childhood literacy professionals

Library CommitteeLibrary Committee

Marsha GebhardtMarsha GebhardtProject Manager, Parents as Teachers National Center

John MicklosJohn MicklosChildren’s authorEditor and Chief of Reading TodayInternational Reading Association

Edna RogersEdna RogersNational State Teacher of the Year – PresidentRetired Kindergarten TeacherMember of Dollywood Foundation Board of Directors

Dorothy StricklandDorothy StricklandSenior Research FellowNIEER (National Institute for Early Education Research)Rutgers University Grad School of Education

Jinx WatsonJinx WatsonAssociate Professor – Coordinator of Youth ServicesSchool of Information ServicesUniversity of Tennessee

Mailing ProcessMailing Process

All books are mailed directly to the child in his/her name

The Dollywood Foundation uses its bulk mailing permit to mail all the Books

The local community must partner with a 501c3 in order for the DWF to mail the books

DWF ResponsibilitiesDWF Responsibilities

Select the Books

Mail the books to your community’s children

Invoice the community for books ordered

Provide technical assistance as needed

BenefitsBenefits

Promotes a love of reading among children

Promotes having every child’s reading ability at maximum level when they start Kindergarten

Promotes parents reading to their children from birth, which has been shown to greatly improve a child’s future reading ability

Promotes community bonding

Promotes family bonding

Making a Difference in Clinton County

Help Support a Child

Be our partner in support of theCCRESA Imagination Library

Learning begins at birth

Children learn through play…

…through interactions with others…

…through interactions with the world around them…

Reading to infants, toddlers, and pre-school age children helps build their vocabulary and prepare them for school.

Research shows that a language rich environment has a critical impact on the

rapid development of a child’s brain.

Our goal is to help support the literacy development of every child living in the Clinton Co.

RESA service area by providing a book per month

from birth to age five

$30.00! – that’s all it costs to

sponsor 1 child for a year

Be Our Partner!

Sponsor a Child Today

The impact will last a lifetime!

Sponsor a child today!Send your

tax deductible contribution to:Clinton County

RESA Imagination Library1013 S. U.S. 27, Suite A

St. Johns, MI 48879

For More Information contact:

Karen Black, Ken Lounds or

Cindy Shinsky at

CCRESA: 989-224-6831

Your support is greatly appreciated.