Children in Butte County will now have access to free books delivered to their homes each month through a new partnership between the international literacy initiative, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and the Butte County Office of Education (BCOE). This program aims to foster early literacy and is designed for children from birth to five years old.
Michelle Lucero, senior director of BCOE Early Education Programs and Services, emphasized the importance of early reading: “When children read early and often, they build the language, confidence, and imagination to thrive.” She expressed excitement over the program’s launch, highlighting that it makes literacy resources accessible to every family in the community.
Since its inception in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has distributed over 300 million books to children worldwide. Research has consistently shown the program’s positive effects on early childhood development and literacy skills, according to Lucero.
Parents, grandparents, and legal guardians can register individual children for this initiative at no cost. Families with multiple children can enroll each child separately. After registration, children will start receiving books approximately eight to ten weeks later. The first book they will receive is the beloved classic, The Little Engine That Could, followed by age-appropriate titles delivered monthly.
“Since we launched the program on Tuesday, we’ve had 800 children registered, ” added Lucero. “This is super exciting for us and for the kids.”
To facilitate the implementation of Imagination Library in Butte County, a local nonprofit had to agree to manage the program’s funds to qualify for bulk mailing rates. Additionally, the local entity needed to demonstrate sufficient financial support for the initiative. The Butte County Office of Education Charitable Trust stepped in to serve as the program’s fiscal partner. After a year of fundraising, successful contributions came from community organizations, including Oroville Friends of the Library, Chico Sunrise Rotary, and the Chico Noon Exchange Club.
According to Lucero, about 11,000 children in Butte County could potentially benefit from the program. The annual cost per child is $31. However, recent legislation passed in 2023 in California allocates funds from the state library system to help communities cover this expense. This funding provides a 50% match to local contributions, reducing the cost to approximately $15.50 per year per child. Lucero noted that this investment by the state underscores its commitment to literacy.
In celebration of the Imagination Library’s launch, BCOE will host a free event titled Lil’ Readers Rodeo: Ride into Reading with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on November 20, 2023, from 17:00 to 18:30 at the BCOE Center for Learning and Resilience, located at 655 Oleander Ave., Chico. The event will feature light refreshments, reading activities for children, and a chance to take photos with a life-sized cutout of Dolly Parton.
For more information about the Imagination Library program in Butte County, including registration details and donation opportunities to sustain the initiative, interested parties can contact Lucero at 530-532-5763 or via email at [email protected].
