Imagination Library Comes to Shawnee County
On Wednesday, April 26, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library CEO Gina Millsap and United Way of Greater Topeka Interim CEO Carol Wheeler officially announced the start of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Shawnee County. The Imagination Library is a free book program for children from birth to 5 years old that mails a new, carefully selected book in the child’s name directly to their home once a month. The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and United Way of Greater Topeka have joined together to make Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library available to all children in Shawnee County to help prepare them for kindergarten.
Volunteers and staff of the two organization and some special guests gathered at the historic Topeka Main Post Office for the announcement. Topeka Postmaster Sheryl Stark read to children from area childcare centers who were the first to officially enroll. One of those childcare centers was represented by the Topeka Chapter of The Links, Inc., one of the donors to the Imagination Library, will also attend.
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been shown to improve early childhood literacy for children in the program,” said Millsap. “Community donors underwrite the costs of the books and the postage for mailing the books to the child’s home. That’s 60 times a child will rush to the mailbox asking, ‘Is there something for me?’”
Reading to children from birth helps young brains develop language, vocabulary and other important cognitive skills. More than 60 percent of low income families have no age-appropriate books for children in their homes (Children’s Literacy Foundation). Only half of babies and toddlers are read to regularly (Reach Out and Read) —not just in low-income families, but across all incomes and educational levels.
“We are so very excited to partner with the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, U.S. Postal Service and many donors to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to the children of Shawnee County,” said Wheeler. “This project supports the work done by us all to foster literacy skills and improve kindergarten readiness in our community.”
After just a week of registration, more than 1,200 children were signed up to receive their first book in mid-June.
More than 500 individuals and organizations have helped make this initiative possible. With more than $300,000 raised United Way and the Library were ready begin enrolling children. But this effort is not only for today’s children, but for generations to come. Currently, it costs $25 to mail one year of books (12 books) to a child or $125 for five years of books (60 books) per child. The Library Foundation and United Way of Greater Topeka have a joint goal of raising $1 million to sustain this program that will help develop eager learners ready for kindergarten.
Parents can sign up their children ages birth to 5 years old by visiting tscpl.org/imagination or unitedwaytopeka.org/imagination. Each child will start receiving books eight to 10 weeks after the registration form is received. Children will receive a book every month until they turn 5 or they move out of Shawnee County. Books are mailed to the address on the registration form. If the child’s address changes, parents must contact United Way of Greater Topeka with the new address as soon as possible.