Kahlan Bouvet is happy to receive her monthly book from Imagination Library of Grant County
50,000th Book Mailed
The Imagination Library's "Dream" is Becoming Reality
The Imagination Library of Grant County just sent its 50,000th book to one of the pre-school children in Grant County. In December of 2010, Loren and Barbara Nelson, local program champions, started New Mexico's first locally sponsored affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. They took to heart Dolly's commitment to the founding principles behind the creation of The Dollywood Foundation, to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More. From The Imagination Library of Grant County's 2011 small beginnings of eight preschool children who lived in the Mining District to its current enrollment of nearly 1,400 in all of Grant County, the Nelsons haven't stopped dreaming and are currently working to make the program a reality for all New Mexico preschool children.
After a recent visit to the Round House with the Grant County Prospectors in January of 2015, Loren Nelson said, "We came away feeling really affirmed. The Imagination Library of New Mexico may not happen this year, but it will happen! There were so many with whom we spoke, both from Grant County and throughout New Mexico, who said over and over that this was an amazing program and that all New Mexico's children deserve to be included."
Each month the local Imagination Library of Grant County, a nonprofit organization, is providing free, age-appropriate books addressed to registered children delivered to his or her home. There is no cost or restriction for these books other than the child must live in Grant County, be under the age of 5 and have a parent or guardian who promises to read to them. "Reading is an addiction that parents should encourage well before their baby's first birthday. The bonding experience is unbeatable," says Patricia Cowan, national program coordinator for Reach Out and Read, a project that gives children books during medical checkups. "When you read to children, they're getting your full attention, and that's what they just love. Nothing -- no TV show or toy -- is better than that."
In 1995, Dolly Parton launched the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee. Dolly's vision was to foster a love of reading among her county's preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. She wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could insure that all children would have books in their homes, regardless of their family's income. Dolly's Imagination Library became so popular that, in 2000, she announced that she would make the program available for replication in any community that was willing to partner with her and support it locally. Thanks to Loren and Barbara Nelson for sharing the Dream and being willing to partner with Dolly, and to the many supporters who have made it possible to deliver 50,000 books to Grant County children.
If you would like to help make the Dream a statewide reality before the end of 2015, please contact The Imagination Library of Grant County at 575.534.9156 or visit their website at www.ImaginationLibraryGC.org.