WEST CHESTER, PA — The power of a good book is not lost on the children of Pennsylvania, thanks in part to the efforts of a group of state legislators and a certain country music legend named Dolly Parton. As part of the celebrations for Read Across America Week, Senators Carolyn Comitta, John Kane, Maria Collett, and Representative Liz Hanbidge are pushing for legislation that would expand Parton’s Imagination Library program across the entire Keystone State.
The Imagination Library, started by Parton in 1995 through the Dollywood Foundation, delivers high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children from birth to age 5. The best part? There’s no cost to the child’s family. These books arrive in the mail, turning an ordinary day into a special occasion for thousands of kids each month.
Currently, more than 53,000 children in 44 Pennsylvania counties are enrolled in the Imagination Library. However, with approximately 700,000 eligible children in the Commonwealth, there’s considerable room for expansion. The proposed legislation, introduced as Senate Bill 1097 and House Bill 2025, seeks to establish a statewide Imagination Library program. This would provide local affiliates with the resources they need to reach even more children.
The importance of this initiative can’t be understated. As Comitta, a mother, grandmother, and former public school teacher who now serves on the Senate Education Committee, explains, “Children learn by reading and the Imagination Library helps make reading a habit at home. By giving them a new book each month, this program empowers kids to pursue independent reading, learn at their own pace, and explore new areas of interest.”
Kane shares these sentiments, noting how the Imagination Library “sparks a love for books in kids from their earliest years, raising a new generation of book lovers across the Commonwealth.” He sees this legislation as a testament to the state’s commitment to education and its belief in the potential of Pennsylvania’s children.
Collett and Hanbidge, both avid book lovers themselves, emphasize the importance of making reading fun and accessible. They believe that early access to literacy provides an educational advantage that can set the stage for lifelong learning and success.
The Imagination Library has come a long way since its first order of 1,700 books nearly 20 years ago. Today, it sends over 2 million books per month to children not only in the United States but also in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. As of January 2024, the program has gifted more than 229 million books.
This proposed expansion of Parton’s Imagination Library in Pennsylvania is about more than just books. It’s about empowering children with knowledge, fostering a love of learning, and providing them with the tools they need to explore the world around them. It’s about understanding that a child who reads, or is read to, today is more likely to become an engaged, informed adult tomorrow.
If this legislation passes, it will mark a significant step forward in Pennsylvania’s commitment to early childhood education and development. And who knows? The next great Pennsylvania author, scientist, or public servant might just be one of the many children who discover their love of reading through the Imagination Library.
For more information on the Imagination Library and to check if it’s currently available in your area, visit imaginationlibrary.com. And, in the meantime, why not pick up a book and read with a child in your life? After all, as Dolly Parton herself once said, “You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children.”
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