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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library being planned for Midland
Country-western singer/songwriter Dolly Parton will be making her mark on Midland students -- indirectly -- through her Imagination Library, a program that sends books to youngsters newborn to 5
by Ruth Campbell
Midland Reporter-Telegram
By Ruth Campbell
Staff Writer
Country-western singer/songwriter Dolly Parton will be making her mark on Midland students -- indirectly -- through her Imagination Library, a program that sends books to youngsters newborn to 5 years of age for $28 a year.
Midland Independent School District Education Foundation and a community action team, made up of co-chairs Margaret Cowden and Elizabeth Dennison, among others, have begun plans to offer the program here.
Foundation Director Jami Owen said the Education Foundation was brought in because of its nonprofit designation to be the fiscal agent.
With approximately 1,200 births a year in Midland, Owen said that would be a starting point for how many kids the program could serve. Dennison, a retired educator, said most cities register children for the program at birth.
To this end, she would like pediatricians to be on the action team, along with the postmaster, attorneys, the head of the hospital pediatric department and anyone else who would like to serve. The help of churches also will be enlisted to reach communities that might not otherwise be reached.
Fundraising still is being worked out, but eventually, with board approval, Owen said the Education Foundation would have a line item in its budget for this purpose.
The foundation's priorities, however, remain scholarships for continuing education for teachers and innovative teaching grants, dubbed Grants for Great Ideas.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library stems from Parton's childhood. One of 12 children born to a poor family in Eastern Tennessee, Parton says in an Imagination Library brochure she had dreams.
"The seeds of these dreams are often found in books, and I hope that my Imagination Library will inspire children to keep dreaming and to dream big."
A portion of proceeds from Parton's shows goes to the Dollywood Foundation to help reduce the cost of the books, Owen said.
For $28 a month, kids receive a book a month delivered to their home from the publisher. By the time a child is 5, they could have 60 books, Owen said. Every sibling under 5 can be signed up so all youngsters have books at their own level.
"There's pride of ownership for these children. 'This is my book.' There are homes that do not have many -- if any -- books," Owen said. "This promotes early childhood reading. ... In the first years, there's minimal text and playful sound. It also is a time that parents can sit and read with their children."
The books take the children through all phases of learning during childhood, winding up with helping prepare youngsters for school.
"Some of the early books you can get in Spanish and English. There's even some wordless books so the child and parent can build their own story ... which is wonderful for imagination. It helps with values, character traits, issues like fear, conflict and safety," Owen said.
"Colors, letters, numbers and nursery rhymes are all a part of this series (as is poetry and folktales). Even (with) 4-year- olds, you get into more complex stories, stories about heroes and complications in life and resolutions of problem situations," she added.
Owen said United Way and Dollywood Foundation have an agreement nationally to support the program, so the Midland agency is interested.
Ruth Campbell can be reached at ruth@mrt.com
Staff Writer
Country-western singer/songwriter Dolly Parton will be making her mark on Midland students -- indirectly -- through her Imagination Library, a program that sends books to youngsters newborn to 5 years of age for $28 a year.
Midland Independent School District Education Foundation and a community action team, made up of co-chairs Margaret Cowden and Elizabeth Dennison, among others, have begun plans to offer the program here.
Foundation Director Jami Owen said the Education Foundation was brought in because of its nonprofit designation to be the fiscal agent.
With approximately 1,200 births a year in Midland, Owen said that would be a starting point for how many kids the program could serve. Dennison, a retired educator, said most cities register children for the program at birth.
To this end, she would like pediatricians to be on the action team, along with the postmaster, attorneys, the head of the hospital pediatric department and anyone else who would like to serve. The help of churches also will be enlisted to reach communities that might not otherwise be reached.
Fundraising still is being worked out, but eventually, with board approval, Owen said the Education Foundation would have a line item in its budget for this purpose.
The foundation's priorities, however, remain scholarships for continuing education for teachers and innovative teaching grants, dubbed Grants for Great Ideas.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library stems from Parton's childhood. One of 12 children born to a poor family in Eastern Tennessee, Parton says in an Imagination Library brochure she had dreams.
"The seeds of these dreams are often found in books, and I hope that my Imagination Library will inspire children to keep dreaming and to dream big."
A portion of proceeds from Parton's shows goes to the Dollywood Foundation to help reduce the cost of the books, Owen said.
For $28 a month, kids receive a book a month delivered to their home from the publisher. By the time a child is 5, they could have 60 books, Owen said. Every sibling under 5 can be signed up so all youngsters have books at their own level.
"There's pride of ownership for these children. 'This is my book.' There are homes that do not have many -- if any -- books," Owen said. "This promotes early childhood reading. ... In the first years, there's minimal text and playful sound. It also is a time that parents can sit and read with their children."
The books take the children through all phases of learning during childhood, winding up with helping prepare youngsters for school.
"Some of the early books you can get in Spanish and English. There's even some wordless books so the child and parent can build their own story ... which is wonderful for imagination. It helps with values, character traits, issues like fear, conflict and safety," Owen said.
"Colors, letters, numbers and nursery rhymes are all a part of this series (as is poetry and folktales). Even (with) 4-year- olds, you get into more complex stories, stories about heroes and complications in life and resolutions of problem situations," she added.
Owen said United Way and Dollywood Foundation have an agreement nationally to support the program, so the Midland agency is interested.
Ruth Campbell can be reached at ruth@mrt.com
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
noble barnes wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:22 AM:
" Compared to the Grand Tetons, the $28 would be Jackson Hole. They would have liked to have recommended a figure of 40DD. "
Lauren wrote on Nov 17, 2008 10:35 AM:
" How does someone sign up to be on the team? It sounds like a great project for Midland!!! "
shane wrote on Nov 17, 2008 10:52 AM:
" 28 dollars a year, it's in the first sentence.
I just met Dolly in Saskatoon, Canada on Friday and she is amazing!! I had my picture taken with my children's book Patches the Beaver, at HER request!
She was amazing! "
I just met Dolly in Saskatoon, Canada on Friday and she is amazing!! I had my picture taken with my children's book Patches the Beaver, at HER request!
She was amazing! "
shame wrote on Nov 17, 2008 11:02 AM:
" "I had my picture taken with my children's book Patches the Beaver..."
Is there no end to the sexual conotations of children's books.
No wonder the world is full of deviates who grew up reading the offerings of the masters perversion, loyalists to the foreign country that controls the united states of America. "
Is there no end to the sexual conotations of children's books.
No wonder the world is full of deviates who grew up reading the offerings of the masters perversion, loyalists to the foreign country that controls the united states of America. "
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JAYMZ wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:29 AM: