Hardeman County Imagination Library Celebrates Highest Enrollment Rate in Tennessee
Hardeman County Imagination Library currently serves 96 percent of the age-eligible population in the county, marking the highest county enrollment rate across the state. The program is one of 95 county affiliates of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Tennessee and was recognized by Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, the statewide sustaining partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, in April for this enrollment milestone. The program currently mails books to 1,129 birth to age five children in Hardeman County each month and has delivered over 153,000 books since inception in 2006.
Having books in the home has consistently proven to be a predictor of children’s academic success. Tennessee studies found that Imagination Library participants outperformed non-participants on kindergarten literacy assessments and continued this trend even into second and third grades. Further, higher attendance rates and lower suspension rates were indicated for participating students through the fifth grade.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is made available to all Tennessee children from birth to age five, through a unique, public-private partnership between Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and a local affiliate program in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. With vital financial support from the Tennessee General Assembly, foundations, and corporate sponsors, GELF funds half the cost of Imagination Library books for enrolled children statewide, supporting affiliates in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties as they raise the other half of the cost of books for enrolled children in their county.
“Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation is proud to partner with county Imagination Library affiliates to foster a love of reading in children and build lifelong learners across Tennessee,” said James Pond, GELF President. “We are honored to celebrate the significant impact Hardeman County Imagination Library has made on the community and its top-ranking enrollment percentage, and we are extremely grateful for the dedicated volunteers and local partners who make it happen.”
With over 1,100 books now being mailed to enrolled children in Hardeman County, the monthly shared cost allocated to Hardeman County Imagination Library exceeds $1,200. To volunteer or get involved, contact Monroe Woods, Hardeman County Imagination Library Coordinator, at (731) 609-3906 or e-mail montenn@aol.com. To donate online, go to https://www.governorsfoundation.org/give. Be sure to specify Hardeman County to designate your donation to the local program. To enroll your child, visit https://www.governorsfoundation.org/enroll.
About Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation
Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) equips Tennessee’s children with books and innovative literacy tools that encourage lifelong learning for a brighter future. GELF is a non-partisan 501c3 driven by a mission to strengthen early literacy in Tennessee by acting as a thought leader, advisor, and catalyst for programs across the state. These programs include Birth-5 Book Delivery through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, K-3 Home Library, Caregiver Engagement, Book Buses, and Storybook Trails. GELF was founded in 2004 by former Gov. Phil Bredesen as a public-private partnership to sustain Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Tennessee, giving all birth to age five children the opportunity to receive books in the mail at no cost to families. GELF has grown from solely a book- gifting program to an early literacy organization driven by a vision where all Tennessee children have access to the resources, guidance and support they need to become lifelong learners. For more information, visit www.GovernorsFoundation.org or www.facebook.com/GovEarlyLiteracyTN, or call toll-free at (877) 99-BOOKS.
Read more local news by clicking here.
Stay informed on what’s happening in Hardeman County by subscribing to Hatchie Press e-mail updates.
Do you have community news you’d like to share? E-mail us at news@hatchiepress.com.
