subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 20 2008 

Published: March 23, 2008 09:23 pm    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Dolly helps bring books to McDowell children

By CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

WELCH — With help from the Dollywood Foundation, youngsters in McDowell County are exceeding state expectations when it comes to their love of reading.

Ten months after the Dollywood “Imagination Library” program was implemented in McDowell County, the county is reporting a 106 percent participation level. The program insures that all children can receive age-appropriate books in their homes regardless of their family’s income.

“It’s a wonderful program, and it’s been wonderful for our children and the parents too,’ Donna Morgan, director of the McDowell County Public Library, said. The library partnered with the Dollywood Foundation and country music superstart Dolly Parton, the McDowell County Board of Education and the state Department of Education, to launch the pilot program in McDowell County last year. “All of the children are so excited because the book comes directly to the child’s home. It’s in their name. They get a new book every month. That is such a wonderful thing.”

As part of the program, parents or grandparents who agreed to read aloud to their children or grandchildren may register the children for free books at the McDowell County Public Library or one of its branch offices. The books are mailed to the children’s home each month until their 5th birthday, Robin Taylor, director of the Imagination Library program, said.

“We are just so proud of what McDowell County has done,” Taylor said. “They were the very first. We launched on June 1, 2007. What Dolly (Parton) wanted to do — her goal was to give these children a library of their own before they enter the school system.”

Taylor said the Dollywood Foundation estimated there were 1,406 eligible children for the program last year. The agency projected that only 70 percent of the eligible children — or 984 youngsters — would register. However, more than 1,042 children in McDowell County have registered in the program to date.

Taylor said the Imagination Library program is currently active or planned for McDowell, Lincoln, Clay, Barber, Mingo and Webster counties. Taylor said officials hope to expand the program statewide in the future.

Taylor said the overwhelming response in McDowell County can be attributed to a caring community.

“The community support — it’s unbelievable,” Taylor said. “I still have people calling me once a week asking for registration brochures so they can get them out to more people.”

“We are very competitive,” Morgan added. “We like to show people what McDowell County can do. When we set out with a goal, we like to accomplish a goal.”

Morgan said the first book received by children newly registered in the program includes a letter written by the country music superstar to the child.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com







print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.



monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

ACCOUNTING CLERK
ACCOUNTING CLERK A local, well established company is looking to add a member to their business office team. We have ...>MORE

RECORDS MANAGER III & SUPERVISOR OF STUDENT ACCOUNTS
New River Community and Technical College, with multiple campuses in southeast West Virginia, announces the following av...>MORE

PART TIME NIGHT AUDITORS
Holiday Inn of Bluefield
now seeking
Part Time
Night Auditors
Apply in person
with resume at
...>MORE

MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST

...>MORE

THERAPEUTIC DAY TREATMENT COUNSELOR (MASTERS LEVEL)
Cumberland Mountain Community Services Board is recruiting for a Therapeutic Day Treatment
Counselor
(Masters
...>MORE

UNDERGROUND MINERS WANTED
Underground
Miners Wanted!!

Local Contractor has immediate openings
for Experienced VA
under
...>MORE

GENERAL MANAGER
ARBY's
Bluefield, WV.

GENERAL MANAGER

Previous Restaurant Manager experience required. We off
...>MORE

See all ads

Yard Sales

BENEFIT AUCTION
Benefit Auction featuring great deals on new items from America's #1
Shop-at-Home Channel. July 26, 6 p.m., the Wa
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

OPEN HOUSE 1011 MEADOR ST. PRINCETON, WV
OPEN HOUSE
Sunday 1 -3 pm.
For sale, great house in Pctn, 1011 Meador St. Watch for street sign off Park Ave o
...>MORE

PLEASANT VALLEY SUBDIVISION.
Pleasant Valley Subdiv. 1995 Fleetwood DoubleWide on permanent block foundation including lot. 3 BR, 2 BA, LR, FR with f...>MORE

3 BR, 2 BA -- ROCKY GAP, VA
Rocky Gap, Va.
Home for Sale
Approx. 15 minutes
from Bluefield.
3 BR, 2 BA, Mft.
Home with 1,4
...>MORE

FIXER UPPER IN BRAMWELL
Fixer upper in Bramwell. 3 BR, 2 BA, 2 story, bsmt, fenced yard. $24,000 cash or $34,000 on land contract. (304)269-5542...>MORE

See all ads

Hot Stuff

ESTATE AUCTION - SAT., JULY 26
Estate Auction
Sat., July 26 • 10 AM
Colonial Auction
Gallery
114 S. Main St.
Pearisburg, VA...>MORE

FLOWER SHOP FOR SALE IN NORTHFORK, WV
Flower Shop for Sale in Northfork, WV.
Large 3 story building. Full bsmt, 2 upstairs apartment (good rental income)
...>MORE

2005 FORD RANGER
2005 Ford Ranger 4 x 4, V6, 5 sp, AC, CD. 27,600 miles,
Excellent condition.
Asking $12,900
304-425-6006
...>MORE

FOR RENT
Princeton- 1BR, Studio Apt. with Garage.
Great Location.
Call (304) 557-6118
...>MORE

AKC WHITE LAB PUPPIES
AKC White lab. Pups.
27 mo. health guarantee, avid chip. chipslabs.com
Call 276-988-5725
...>MORE

LIL' CAMPER DEPENDABLE CHILDCARE, INC.




...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc
 

 

Online store Princeton Times