Knox County's Imagination Library is one of Largest in Nation

April 18, 2006

The next order of books for Imagination Library will break the 10,000 mark of children registered, making Knox County's program one of the largest in the country second only to Davidson County, which claims the most registrants with over 12,000. Gunning for top spot, the Knox County Imagination Library's Board of Advisors is challenging every parent and legal guardian to register their kids in the program.
 
Knox County has a population of 23,371 children under the age of 5 who are eligible to receive free, age-appropriate, hardbound books in the mail from the Imagination Library; 43% of the population is currently enrolled. Comparatively, Davidson County has a population of 37,813 with 32% enrolled in the program. In a friendly competition, the two Tennessee programs are the largest in the country and hope to garner 100% participation, proving that early childhood development is a priority.

The June order will push the total number of books mailed out locally to over 100,000 since its inception. Launched in January 2005 with the help of Governor Bredesen, the program has gained momentum across Knox County with registration drives throughout the year at various events including its first birthday celebration at area bookstores, Boo at the Zoo, and the Children's Festival of Reading.

Knox County Public Library, area day care centers, child service providers, and Knox County Schools are partners in registering children in the program. Additionally, area hospitals with birthing centers include Imagination Library brochures in the information sent home with newborns. University of Tennessee Medical Center and Baptist Hospital for Women actually register newborns directly in the program and provide the first book at the hospital.

Administered by the Knox County Public Library, the program raises money privately for books and mailing through its Board of Advisors. "We have exceeded our enrollment and funding expectations.  This significant milestone indicates that the citizens of our community realize how very important early childhood education is. This is an exciting time for Knox County," commented Board President Larry Clark, who first initiated the program in Knox County.  Other members of the Board include Dr. Joe Johnson, Crissy Haslam, Claudia Ragsdale, Diana Morgan, Laura Heinz, Juanita Cannon, Mike Hammond, Dr. Mike Winstead, Terry Holley, Bonny Naugher, Cynthia Finch, Cathy Chesney, and Mary Pom Claiborne. Marilyn Jones is the Coordinator for the program.

Books and mailing cost $2.25 per child per month for a total annual bill of $631,000 at full capacity. The Governor‚s Books from Birth Foundation provides a matching grant to every Tennessee community that offers Imagination Library to its children, cutting their cost in half. Major funding for the program is provided by Variety, A Children's Charity the philanthropic arm of Regal Cinemas, Cornerstone Foundation, Alcoa Foundation, Knoxville News Sentinel, Friends of the Knox County Public
Library, Anderson Companies, Pilot Corporation, Home Federal, and many others.

The program was founded by Dolly Parton in Sevier County as a way of battling illiteracy. Started in 1996, Dolly's dream of helping prepare all children to learn to read became a reality. Since that time, the program has expanded across the country with over 500 communities offering free books to their youngest citizens.

Reading to a child early in life is one of the single most important factors in guaranteeing future success. Brain research shows that neurological connections formed in the first three years of life dictate vocabulary acquisition and intellectual agility. Reading and singing to infants is critical to a child's development.  Children who are read to as infants and toddlers are more prepared to learn when they enter school. Currently, 35% of children entering kindergarten are already behind. Book skills such as reading from left to right, top to bottom should be acquired before a child enters Kindergarten. Imagination Library acknowledges that a parent is a child's first and most important teacher.

"I am extremely pleased to see the success of this program. The Board of Imagination Library has done an incredible job of raising the money and making people aware of this important program," commented Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale. "I'm proud to have been a part of its creation and look forward to seeing the benefits it will reap in the future success of our children." Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale has emphasized reading as an important building block for children through his award winning "Read With Me" program where he and community volunteers visit elementary schools once a week to read to a classroom.

Parents can register their children in Imagination Library at any Knox County Public Library or by downloading a registration form from www.knoxcounty.org. For more information on Imagination Library, please call
865-215-8743.