June 2008

I recently had the pleasure of helping to kick off a project that has been very dear to my heart for several years now. On March 19, the United Way Women’s Initiative, under the leadership of Steering Committee Chair Karen Taylor, announced the launch of a new reading program in Columbia. The program, which began May 1, is called Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a national program of the Dollywood Foundation. Through this program, enrolled children will receive a free hardback book each month through their 5th birthdays.

We know first-hand how reading to a child from birth can impact not just the child but the entire family. So, when we were approached by the United Way Women’s Initiative to be a partner, we were thrilled.

Many public libraries, including the Daniel Boone Regional Library system, have been leaders in what is now called “emergent literacy,” which helps prepare children under age 5 for school. Reading is essential to our knowledge-based economy; however, too many American children are behind for their age or grade, especially those from lower economic levels. Consider that recent research indicates: “There is nearly a 90 percent probability that poor readers at the end of first grade will remain poor readers at the end of fourth grade.” Also, “Knowing the alphabet letters when entering kindergarten is a strong predictor of reading ability in tenth grade.”

Each of the Imagination Library books is hand-chosen by a national panel of early childhood professionals and is tailored to the progressive development levels of the children as they age. The first book given is Dolly’s favorite, “The Little Engine That Could,” and this first year, the Friends of the Columbia Public Library group is purchasing this title. The program form and first book will be given to infants that sign up at either Columbia Regional Hospital or Boone Hospital Center. The United Way hopes to reach 800 infants this first year.

Children born in 2008 with a Columbia address are eligible to enroll, and sign-up forms are now available at the library. The library is also maintaining the address database for the project. Parents As Teachers is signing up families through home visits. The United Way Women’s Initiative is coordinating the project and raising the $30 per child per year it costs to offer this terrific program.