Much loved reading programme—Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Renfrewshire—celebrated becoming permanent with bell chimes.
Paisley Town Hall played a special rendition of Dolly Parton’s songs I Will Always Love You and Jolene to the gathered crowd outside.
Children from Dargavel and Williamsburgh early learning and childcare centres attended along with council officers who support the programme.
Renfrewshire Council is the first local authority in Scotland to offer every child aged two to five years old a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month through the programme. It’s delivered to the homes of all children registered.
More than 150,000 books have been given out to Renfrewshire children since the programme began four years ago.
Renfrewshire has funded the programme as part of its educational aim to inspire a lifelong love of reading in children and improve literacy. It ensures all children have access to books in their home free of charge.
Councillor Emma Rodden, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board, said: “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is much loved by our children. Families have told us how excited their children are to receive a new book through the post each month.
“Making the programme permanent is a testament to the teams behind it, including our nurseries who have encouraged parents to register their child. It has delivered amazing successes over the last four years and developed a love of reading in thousands of children from an early age. Now, it can continue the great work and support more children to develop that same love of books in the future.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library began in 1995 and is 30 years old this year.
Helena Barrett-Duncan, Dollywood Foundation regional director for Scotland, said: “We could not be more delighted that funding for the Renfrewshire Imagination Library has been made permanent. We could not be more inspired by the impact the Renfrewshire Imagination Library is having on its community, acting as a role model to the rest of Scotland. Renfrewshire are ensuring their youngest children are being brought up with a love of reading and this will have lifelong impacts for these children and the community as a whole.”
Anyone who has a child aged two to five who lives in Renfrewshire or attends a Renfrewshire nursery can register to the programme. You can register, here: https://imaginationlibrary.com/uk/affiliate/RENFREWSHIRE2.
Photo: Children in Dargavel Early Learning and Childcare Centre read a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library book in a reading nook
Photo Credit Renfrewshire Council
Headline photo: Nursery children from Dargavel and Williamsburgh early learning and childcare centres sit on steps outside Paisley Town Hall along with Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron, Janie O’Neill, director of Renfrewshire Council’s Children’s Services, John Trainer, Renfrewshire Council’s head of Children and Justice Social Work teams, Julie Paterson and Gail Abraham, Council officers who co-ordinate Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Renfrewshire, and Helena Barrett-Duncan, Dollywood Foundation regional director for Scotland
Photo Credit Renfrewshire Council