It was a day filled with lots of excited children as local libraries in McIntosh County launched the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program is a nationwide book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income.
The reading program is a way to get books into the hands of children, from birth to five years old, to help develop a love for reading early in life.
The Eufaula Memorial Library and the Jim Lucas Checotah Library hosted two launch parties for the local Dolly Parton’s Imagi- nation Library on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Thirty-one children were in attendance, some from the Muskogee Creek Nation Headstart at Eufaula and many more showed up at Checotah to sign up for the program.
The children listened to a story read by Librarian Beth Sherrill, who has been working for over 25 years with Checotah’s local children, and will be retiring in March.
Guests also enjoyed punch and cupcakes provided by East Central Electric Co-op and the Checotah Foundation for Academic Excellence, and took their first book home from the Imagination Library.
The Oklahoma Department of Education provided these books.
Then volunteers, along with representatives from The East Central Electric Coop and the Checotah Foundation for Academic Excellence, helped set up and distribute the books and snacks for the children.
In total, 37 children were registered during the event. There were 110 children registered in McIntosh County before the event.
“We are so excited and enthused to be bringing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to the youngest citizens of McIntosh County,” CFAE Board Member Sharlene Eddy said. “The partnership between East Central Electric, The Checotah Foundation for Academic Excellence, our county public libraries, as well as many other amazing organizations, has been a wonderful collaboration and we look forward to many years of getting fabulous books into the hands of as many young children as possible.”
East Central Electric donated $7,000 to the program, which was then matched by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
“It was an amazing event and so rewarding to watch these children so excited over a new book in their hands,” Eddy said. “And each month they will experience that feeling over and over again as they receive another new book and another. What’s better than giving a child the opportunity of reading to expand their world?”
Children can still enroll in the program at any time by visiting the website, imaginationlibrary. com, or by picking up an application at their local library.
