Imagination Library looking to expand in county

PRESCOTT – Not only is Imagination Library (IL) alive and well in Nevada County, it’s looking to expand.

The Prescott Alliance for Community Development Association (PACDA), overseeing the IL program, met Monday evening at the Nevada County Library and was informed 361 children under the age of five are currently enrolled in IL.

Gloria Majors, president of the PACDA informed the group there are 518 children eligible for the program in the county and the goal is to enroll each and every one in IL. There’s no cost to the family of these children. All they have to do is sign up and their child will get a free book every month.

Michelle Rhodes, vice president of PACDA, said one of the new things for IL is parents can now enroll their children in the program on line. For those parents without access to a computer or the internet, hard copy registration is still available and forms can be found at the library, both banks, Smiles, the Department of Human Services and the Nevada County Health Unit. Forms will be distributed throughout the county and will soon be at the Bluff City Post Office and at locations in Willisville and Rosston. Additionally, registration cards will be passed out at Little League and T-ball baseball games, as well as at the Prescott and Nevada High School proms this month, Highway 67 Gas and Grill, at the Ila Upchurch Banquet and the annual Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce’s Easter Egg Hunt.

However, the program is only open to children from birth to five-years-old. Once a child turns five, they are no longer eligible for IL. But, for those eligible, parents can learn more about the program on Facebook at Nevada County Imagination Library.

Rhodes said Nevada County is in the top tier of counties in the state when it comes to the IL program and ranks in the top four. The goal is to be the best. “Research indicates children in Imagination Library have better test scores [than those who aren’t]. This is the second year for enrolling children in Nevada County.”

IL was started by Dolly Parton as a way to get children to read. The program literally puts books in the hands of children by partnering with local communities to provide a specially-selected, high-quality book each month. These books are personalized with each child’s name and are mailed directly to their home. If a family has more than one child under the age of five, it’s not a problem. Each child can be enrolled separately and will receive their own books. Parton started the program in 1995 and IL has delivered more than 90 million books to children in more than 2,000 communities worldwide.

Rhodes said the books are age appropriate and are selected by a panel of early childhood experts. Children who participate in IL see improved kindergarten readiness scores and have a higher vocabulary and reading comprehension by the third grade.

IL of Nevada County is a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status, meaning all donations are tax deductible. According to the program, $125 supplies a monthly book for five years per child. Donations can be mailed to PACDA, P.O. Box 505, Prescott, AR 71857.

For more information about IL, or to get involved, call Majors at 870-887-0789 or Rhodes at 870-403-8096.