Friday November 6th marked the first delivery of Imagination Library books to children in Muscatine County. The Imagination Library of Muscatine County is a project designed to develop a love of reading, improve literacy skills, strengthen family relationships and increase school readiness among children ages 0-5. Each month, children are mailed an age appropriate book, from the time of their enrollment through their fifth birthday. This is provided at no cost to the family.
By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to homes, the program is helping improve childhood literacy. Children will have accessibility to books regardless of their family’s income or situation. This proven successful program was established in 1996 by the Dolly Parton Foundation, who administers the program for a cost of approximately $25 per child per year. The Imagination Library of Muscatine County board is made up of representative from United Way of Muscatine, Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, Muscatine Community School District, Muscatine YMCA, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Trinity Muscatine Public Health, Early Childhood Iowa Muscatine County, and Tree of Knowledge. The United Way of Muscatine is the Champion and fiscal agent.
United Way of Muscatine began registering children into the program on September 8th, International Literacy Day. “The timing of us securing the necessary funding to start the program perfectly coincided with International Literacy Day. Initial funding was provided by United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, Community Partnerships for Protecting Children, and private donors. Recently, Imagination Library of Muscatine County received a grant from Muscatine Charities, ” said Shane J. Orr, Executive Director of United Way of Muscatine.
Children who registered for the program in September just received a welcome book from Dolly Parton, The Little Engine that Could. All future books the children will receive vary based on age. “The excitement about this program from families has been great. People are sending us pictures of their children with their books and we even received a thank you note from a child today in the mail,” said Orr.
To enroll your child in the program, download a registration form. You can also pick up a form at the United Way office, located at 208 W 2nd Street, Suite 201.