Imagination comes alive in Nambucca with introduction of popular reading program

Babies born in 2022 in the Nambucca Valley region of New South Wales will be set up for a lifelong love of reading thanks to the introduction of the Imagination Library into the area. 

 

The Imagination Library initiative provides free high quality books to children in the first five years of life and is an initiative of United Way Australia, a not-for-profit community impact organisation. 

 

Babies born from 1 January 2022 are eligible to enrol, with parents being given a registration form in hospital following the birth of their child. Parents can also register their child online, or go to one of the Nambucca Valley Library branches to register.

 

The Imagination Library was initiated by Dolly Parton more than 20 years ago, and according to United Way Australia, more than 160 million books have been delivered to children in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

 

The aim of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is for all children to have access to their own library from an early age, which will assist them in developing the essential emerging literacy skills they will rely on when learning to read and write.

 

Sue Hughes, a Library Officer with Nambucca Valley Council described the Imagination Library as a wonderful concept which equips children for a lifetime of learning and experiencing the joy of books. 

 

When children enrol in the program from birth, they will receive 60 books before they begin school, with the program sending the first book approximately eight weeks after enrolling, and monthly from then on. 

 

The books are delivered directly to the child in their home, and come addressed to the child themselves with the aim of creating excitement for the child as the gift of a book to read and share with their family arrives.

 

Additional assistance is provided to families with an information sheet included inside each book which has been written by early childhood educators. These sheets contain tips on how to engage with the book; for example providing before reading, while reading and after reading activities.

 

The initial program is funded by the NSW Government, and there are options for local sponsorship to support the growth and sustainability of the program.

 

For more information on Imagination Libraries please see here.