Last fall, RLPL was approached by the Rice
Lake School District about starting the Imagination Library program here in
Rice Lake. The representative from the district had the idea that since the
district, RLPL, and Lakeview Medical Center were already working on Reach Out
and Read, now would be a great time to get off the ground with Imagination
Library. We thought, why not?! Combining our efforts for both projects has
created a strong community partnership between three staples in our community
and has put more books into the hands of young kiddos, so it’s really been a
win-win for everyone involved.
If you’re unfamiliar with the two programs,
Reach Out and Read is a national nonprofit where medical providers give out
books at wellness visits from infancy to when the child starts school. The
trained doctors also encourage families to read aloud every day and provide
additional early literacy tips to caregivers.
In Rice Lake, we are going a step further by providing any siblings who
are older than five free books at those wellness visits and setting up a little
free library in the waiting room at the clinic.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book
gifting program that sends books every MONTH to a child from birth to five, no
matter the family’s financial background. Family’s simply need to register
their child, if the program is available in their area, and books will start
arriving in about 8 weeks. The financial side of things is covered by a local
agency and parents never have to worry about cost. The books are selected by
Imagination Library staff, and are age appropriate and high quality books.
Dolly Parton is my hero!