Dear Editor,
Eight years ago, the Rotary Clubs of Linn County embarked upon a mission to help the children of Linn County become better readers by improving their early literacy.
To accomplish this goal the Rotary Clubs of Linn County partnered with the United Way of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties’ children. This program has proven to be a great success.
The Imagination Library was started by Dolly Parton in 1995 to help improve early literacy skills in children birth to 5 years of age.
The program provides a quality, age-appropriate literature book to registered children once a month until the child enters kindergarten. At the end of each book are activities and questions that encourage parents to interact with their children, thus strongly encouraging
parent/child bonding.
Over the past eight years approximately 10,000 Linn County children have participated in the program.
Currently there are over 3,700 children registered in the program with nearly 500 of those coming from Sweet Home.
The books are free to the enrolled families thanks to donations and support from local businesses and organizations.
Businesses like Umpqua Bank, Costal Farms, US Bank and Weyerhaeuser. Organizations like Samaritan Health, the Albany, Lebanon and Sweet Home Libraries, The Sweet Home Community Foundation, the Linn County Early Learning Hub and the Rotary Clubs of Albany, Greater Albany, Lebanon and Sweet Home.
The main organization in charge of the day-to-day functions of the Linn County Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program is the United Way of Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. Several years ago, the program was expanded into Benton and Lincoln counties. Since its
beginning, over 300,000 Imagination Library books have been distributed.
This program is making a huge difference for the participating children as they enter kindergarten. Over the past several years, research has shown that kindergarten students participating in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program have outscored non-participating students in their early literacy skills.
Early reading success makes a huge difference in a child’s education. Children reading at grade level in third grade are 85% more likely to graduate from high school.
The program has been so successful that the state of Oregon is now partnering with other agencies in the state to make the program available to all children in Oregon.
This program is free to children ages birth to 5. If you would like to know more about the program or if you would like to register a child, please visit the United Way of Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties website at www.unitedwaylbl.org.
Additional information can also be found at the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library website www.imaginationlibrary.com/usa.
If you would be interested in donating to this program please contact the United Way of Linn, Benton and Lincoln at the website above. Thank you for your support!
Larry Horton
Sweet Home