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10% of MC’s eligible children have registered for free books

It’s not too late to sign up

Approximately 117 (10%)
McCreary County children, age
birth to five years, registered for
participation in Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library of McCreary
County during the program’s kickoff
event held Thursday (9-15-22)
at the McCreary County Public
Library. Hosted by the local nonprofit
organization, Friends of the
McCreary County Library, Inc., the
kick-off event provided opportunities
for children to visit the library,
register for Dolly’s Imagination Library,
and participate in other fun
activities.
Well known for her bubbly personality
and beautiful voice, beloved
country music singer Dolly
Parton has a passion for helping
others. Inspired by her father’s inability
to read, Dolly began gifting
books free of charge to children
from birth to age five in 1995. Her
project, Imagination Library, began by providing books to
children in her home county
in East Tennessee. Today,
through funding shared by
Dolly and local community
partners, the project now
provides books to children in
five countries and gifts over
1 million free books each
month to children around the
world. (https://imaginationlibrary.
com/)
McCreary County’s Imagination
Library is spearheaded
by the Friends of the
McCreary County Public
Library organization. With
the Imagination Library providing
free books, the local
organization raises funds to cover the cost of mailing
the books to the homes
of children registered in the
program. All children, birth
through five, who reside in
McCreary County are eligible
for the program. Registration
is ongoing. Those
interested in registering for
the program can do so at the
McCreary County Public Library.
An on-line registration
option is expected soon.
Organizers warn it may take
two to three months for a
registered child to receive
their first book; however, after
that, receipt of books occurs
on a regular schedule.
“The McCreary County
Public Library (MCPL) is
thankful that the Friends
of the McCreary County
Public Library has helped
spearhead this exciting new
effort to become an affiliate
of Dolly Parton’s Imagination
Library, to benefit the
children of our County,”
a spokesperson for MCPL
said. “This program, based
on Dolly’s vision of every
child developing a love of
reading, will be a wonderful
asset to McCreary County.
We know that children are
excited about books, and we
want them to feel the magic
that books can create while
fostering a love of reading.
Moreover, with this program
we are able to ensure
every child under the age of
five will have books mailed
to them, regardless of their
family’s income.”
As this is an ongoing program,
the Friends of the
McCreary County Library
organization continues to
seek sponsors who would
like to invest in the children
of McCreary County. The
organization offers two types
of sponsorships: individual
and corporate. By donating
a sponsorship of $30, a
child will receive books for
one year. A donation of $150
will provide books from birth
through age five.
Those interested in being
a sponsor can contact the
McCreary County Public Library
at 606-376-8738.

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