Brighter Beginnings for Children in the Snowy Valleys
Published on 10 May 2022
Snowy Valleys Council has launched an innovative book gifting project, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.
From January 2022, every newborn child living in the Snowy Valleys area will be eligible to access Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which will see them receive a free age-appropriate book every month, until they turn five.
Snowy Valleys Councillor Julia Ham, who has a special interest in early childhood education, said she was delighted to see a program like this rolled out in the Snowy Valleys community.
“This is a game changer for the young children in Snowy Valleys,” she said.
“This is such a practical approach to better equip our young children and to provide the resources to connect parents and children through a love of reading.
“To have access to new books each month is really starting a world of literary imagination. Just brilliant!”
Early childhood census data shows children in the Snowy Valleys are below the state average when it comes to literacy and communication skill levels
The aim of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is for all children to have access to their own library of literary resources from an early age which will assist them in developing the essential emerging literacy skills they will rely on when learning to read and write.
The highly respected charity organisation United Way Australia will work with council and administer the Snowy Valleys project. United Way Australia works towards improving lives and strengthening communities, through its many successful programs.
United Way Australia’s CEO, Clayton Noble said, “United Way Australia is very excited to be partnering with the Snowy Valleys Council on this innovative program. The commitment to ensuring every child born in the region is ‘school ready’ is to be applauded. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will be a big boost to achieving this goal.”
“This is a project which deserves widespread support from across the community because it will deliver positive outcomes at individual, family and community levels,’ said Cr Ham.
“I encourage families with newborns to sign their children up to the program.”
Initiated by Dolly Parton over 20-years ago, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has seen over 160 million books delivered to children in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free age-appropriate and culturally sensitive books to children registered in the program from birth to the age of five.
For more information about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and for further enquiries chat with staff from your local library or contact the Council’s Library Coordinator on (02) 6941 2541 or email [email protected]. New parents can also speak with their local family health nurse.
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Photo Credit - Local mum Bonnie with her children Maggie and baby Charlie at the Tumut Library. Charlie is enrolled in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program.