Imagination Library serving 800 Putnam County children

Editor’s note: The following is another in a series of articles featuring the partner agencies of the Putnam County United Way.

Imagination Library, a beloved literacy program for local children, started and made famous by renowned country singer Dolly Parton, was started locally by The Friends of the Putnam County Public Library in 2011, is proudly serving children in every township in Putnam County.

Any child age birth to five who is a resident of Putnam County may sign up for Imagination Library may sign up for Imagination Library. By doing so, they receive a free, age-appropriate book that comes to them in the mail, addressed directly to the child. And not just any books, but classics like “Madeline,” “Ferdinand,” “Corduroy” and “Llama Llama Red Pajama.”

Currently Imagination Library serves about 800 Putnam County children.

It costs about $25 per child per year to run Imagination Library in Putnam County, or $20,000 per year to run the program.

The Friends of the Library has always taken a great deal of pride in the fact that each dollar donated to the Imagination Library of Putnam County continues to go directly toward the books and the very low cost of mailing the books, and only for this purpose. Imagination Library is run solely by volunteers.

Books selected for Putnam County children are age specific and directed toward what might be happening in a child’s life, or development at the time they receive the book. The books also provide suggestions and tools for parents and educators to help children better understand the book, as well as ways to engage and nurture their child’s love of reading and learning the future.

Having access to quality age-appropriate books will help Putnam County students enter kindergarten classrooms ready to learn. It is always exciting to think that a newborn Putnam County child will have the opportunity to receive 60 books through Imagination Library by their fifth birthday.

Through each age-appropriate book that registered Putnam County children receive, Imagination Library continues to instill not only a love of reading and learning, but regard for diversity of people, their roles, culture and environment; promotion of self-esteem and confidence and appreciation of arts and aesthetics. Imagination Library also continues to socially and economically impact the lives of Putnam County families.

For more information on Imagination Library, visit the Putnam County Public Library or visit http://imaginationlibrary.com to register your child online.