(Atlantic) The Cass County Libraries Association has been accepted as a local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
“We’re really excited,” said Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen.
Andersen says this is a book gifting program that mails a book each month to registered children from birth to their 5th birthday. The Dollywood foundation covers the overhead and costs, and local affiliates raise funds to pay for the books sent to participants in their coverage area. “The idea has been tossed around for longer than I’ve been here,” said Andersen. “For the past six months, we’ve been discussing how this could work and if we could have consistent funding to keep the books going out.”
The Cass County Libraries is now accepting donations to fund the start of this program. Andersen says it costs about $25.00 to send one child one book every month for an entire year. “We feel like we have community support and businesses throughout Cass County that will support this,” said Andersen.
Andersen says a community member is offering to match, dollar for dollar, the first $1,000.00 donated by individuals. The Cass County Libraries will begin registering children for the Imagination Library during the summer reading program. “The books help the child’s awareness and how words are put together, and how stories have a beginning, middle, and end,” said Andersen. “The book selections the Imagination Library selects are high quality and age-appropriate. The first books will be pictures and primary colors and all the things associated with focus.”
The librarians will be reaching out to community organizations and businesses. Any size donation is appreciated, but they will also have the option to sponsor a month and be recognized on the mailing label. For more information, please contact Michelle Andersen at the Atlantic Public Library.
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program globally.
