The Star - Helping spread the word

FAMILIES in key Rotherham suburbs are failing to take advantage of a free book scheme for under fives - and work has begun to make sure that no youngster misses out.

The Imagination Library scheme was launched by country singing legend Dolly Parton nearly three years ago and since then more than 100,000 books have been given to children in the town.
But research by the council has shown that fewer youngsters i

ADVERTISEMENTn suburbs such as Eastwood, Dinnington and Swinton are receiving books - with only 70 per cent signed up in Eastwood.

Jammil Shah and his mother Margul from Eastwood were invited to their local library to join the service, which will see the two-year-old receive a free book every month until he is five.
The scheme is designed to give children a love of books and reading before they go to school.

Mrs Shah heard about the Imagination Library from staff at the Coleridge Children's Centre, where she works as a volunteer.
Alison Lilburn, project manager for the library, said: "It is really important for us to get the message out to parents across Rotherham and particularly in areas such as Eastwood, that their children are entitled to receive these free books.

"The scheme was launched two years ago by Rotherham Council and is designed to give young children access to books from an early age, as part of a range of provision to help develop their communication, language and literacy skills and improve their life chances."

All books are supplied in English, but Alison said: "Even if the parent's first language is not English, the books are very pictorial and provide a great opportunity for interaction between child and adult."
 
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Love for Dolly's Imagination Library spreads around the world!

Allison & Busby Books
I have always adored Dolly Parton, ever since watching her hold her own against the comic genius of Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman in 9 to 5. So I was delighted to see that the Queen of Country was visiting our fair shores this week at the request of Rotherham Council. Rotherham? As in South Yorkshire? Indeedy. Dolly had been invited to launch a very special literacy project, based on the remarkable Imagination Library scheme she originally introduced in her native Tennessee back in 1995. The scheme has now extended to over 500 counties spread across 36 states, and sends every pre-school age child a free book every month. Isn't that amazing? Rotherham are going to adopt the scheme from 2008 and Dolly was their guest of honour at the launch.
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BBC tells Dolly Parton's Rotherham Dream

The singer said it was her "dream" to help children read.

Country star Dolly Parton will jet into South Yorkshire to launch a scheme she devised to improve children's literacy.
The American singing legend set up the Imagination Library in her native East Tennessee to encourage youngsters to read more.
Council chiefs in Rotherham have taken a leaf out of the singer's book and are introducing the method locally.
Parton will launch the first UK Imagination Library at the town's Magna centre on 5 December.

Full story on the BBC

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