Laurens County First Steps Celebrates Achievement with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program
September 4, 2024
The Laurens County First Steps (LCFS) proudly announces its ongoing commitment to childhood literacy: the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program has had remarkablesuccess in the community, marking a transformative impact on local families and young readers.
How does The Little Engine That Could or Three Little Pigs make a difference in early childhood literacy? A report from the National Early Literacy Panel notes that literacy skills developed from birth until age 5 “have a clear and consistently strong relationship with later conventional literacy skills.” According to researchers at the Institute of Education Sciences, children who have developed strong language and literacy skills by the time they enter elementary school are more likely to achieve both short-term and long-term academic success.
Prior to September 2023, only students zoned for Laurens School District 55 were eligible to sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL). LCFS saw the need to implement this program for the children who are in the Laurens School District 56 attendance zone. Since LCFS began sponsoring DPIL in September 2023, for students residing in LCSD56, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program has surpassed its initial goals, providing over 2,570 free, high-quality books to 405 children from birth to age five. This initiative, known for its focus on early childhood education and literacy, has been embraced enthusiastically by local families, educators, and community leaders alike. Families sign up their child(ren) for this program at no cost. However, for each book that is mailed, Laurens County First Steps pays $2.20 per book. During the first 9 months of the new program, LCFS directly paid $5,654.00. The program this fiscal year is expected to cost ~$9,200. LCFS is eager to receive community financial support to assist in the cost of this early childhood literacy program.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible achievement for our “first year”, said Toni Able, Executive Director of the Laurens County First Steps. “The Imagination Library has truly become a beacon of learning and opportunity in our community. It’s heartwarming to see so many young children discovering the joys of reading, and we’re grateful to Dolly Parton and the many local supporters who have made this possible.”
“We are thrilled every month when we get new books! They have taken such an interest in reading. It is a more than a nightly story in our home! In fact, Lola will bring me a book and say, “read book”, several times a day. I catch Presley “reading” and remembering the words to stories! Reading has always been my favorite pastime, and I’m so happy to see the girls want to read on their own. We love Jolene, and Dollywood, but our favorite thing about Dolly Parton is the books she sends!” – Leslie I.
The Imagination Library Program, founded by country music icon Dolly Parton, provides a free book each month to registered children, starting from birth until their fifth birthday. The books, selected by a team of experts, are designed to foster a love of reading and support early literacy development. In Laurens County, the program has not only expanded access to books, but also strengthened family engagement in literacy activities.
Contact: Toni Able
Executive Director, Laurens County First Steps
Phone: (864) 984-8130
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://laurensfirststeps.org/
People interested in learning more about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library should contact Toni Able, Executive Director of Laurens County First Steps or visit https://laurensfirststeps.org
To register a child please use the following link – https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability
About Laurens County First Steps
Laurens County First Steps is a local nonprofit that works collaboratively to ensure that all children start school ready to reach their highest potential. We achieve this goal by engaging families, caregivers, and community partners in high-quality evidence-based programs and services that improve early childhood development, from before birth through age five. We also serve as a connector and convener of all early childhood stakeholders in Laurens County.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Community Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five – at no cost to families. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.
The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
