New literacy program set to deliver free books to regions’ youngest children
A new chapter in childhood literacy is set to begin in Woodstock this fall as the community prepares to launch its first affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The iconic singer founded the program 30 years ago to improve children’s literacy. She was inspired by her upbringing in rural Tennessee, where literacy rates were low. Parton stated on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library website that her father’s inability to read influenced her to bring her idea to life.
“He was the smartest man I have ever known, but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams,” said Parton.
Since its launch, over 3 million children have been registered across the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K., and Ireland. Nearly 300 million books have been given as gifts. Children registered from birth to age five receive one free book per month by mail, totalling 60 books, if they are enrolled from birth.
After the program has been running for three decades, Woodstock will ‘jump on the train’ in September. Jane McLean, a member of the board of directors for the Woodstock affiliate, says she and her fellow retired teacher and friend, Gloria Yechyshin, had been talking about it for years.
“We’re both retired. We’re not young and energetic anymore, but we’ve wanted to do this for years. We’ve talked about it, and then it just kind of died away,” said McLean.
Fate had other plans in store, however. McLean was approached by Caitlin Taylor, a current teacher, about bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Woodstock. Before meeting with McLean, Taylor had reached out to the Canadian representatives; McLean knew right away that what she had been dreaming about for years would finally become a reality.
“I just said, are you kidding me? And that was it,” said McLean.
The three later met with Trish Foster, a member of the Carleton North Dolly Parton Imagination Library board, for their first official meeting on April 12. Although the books delivered to registered children are free, affiliates are responsible for paying shipping and handling fees.
If 100 per cent of children in the area are to register in September, the Woodstock affiliates would have to pay $37,800 per year, which only accounts for children enrolled at Townsview and Meduxnekeag Consolidated School.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library advises expecting only 60 per cent of children to register, meaning the Woodstock affiliates will pay around $23,000 per year.
“We had to do some fundraising. We had to be pretty sure that we were going to have enough money to not only make it work one year, but long-term,” said Mclean.
The board was able to attract 11 generous individuals from the community who have committed to a substantial amount of money. McLean says the names of the donors will be revealed at a later date, once everyone has given their permission for disclosure.
On May 12, the members presented the idea to the Woodstock Rotary Club and requested a $25,000 donation; on July 7, Rotary agreed to support them.
The committee is also partnering with the L.P. Fisher Library to hold events and promote the use of the public library to up-and-coming readers. McLean says the program will be a stepping stone for children’s engagement in public libraries.
The Woodstock team will be at the Aug. 27 Meet the Teacher nights at Townsview and Meduxnekeag Consolidated Schools, hoping that the Imagination Library train will be full of enrollments for the launch. They will also be distributing brochures around town with the information.
Having been an English teacher for 33 years, McLean is looking forward to the enrolled children receiving books at their door. She emphasizes how these books can be generational; when they reach the age of five, they can share their books with younger siblings or family.
” The joy of reading and the power that being literate gives an individual; you can’t buy that. When they are five and they no longer get books, some of them are very sad, but if they have younger siblings, you’ll be able to read the books to your younger brother or sister,” said McLean.
The Carleton North Imagination Library has achieved remarkable success, delivering over 30,000 books and registering almost 1,000 children in the ten years since its inception. On September 15, a public event will be held to celebrate the milestone. For more information, contact fosterrodents@gmail.com.
If you are interested in registering your child with the Woodstock Imagination Station, you can go to imaginationlibrary.com or email woodstockimagination.com, where you can also donate money via e-transfer.
