Published: March 23, 2008 09:22 pm      

Dolly helps bring books to McDowell children

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