chaffee county imagination library - microsoft · currently 304 children are registered ... no day...

Chaffee County Imagination Library

Salida Sunrise Rotary Club and Buena Vista Rotary Club

Program Update December 14, 2016

December 14, 2016 Chaffee County Imagination Library Program

Imagination Library Imagination Library –– A ReviewA Review

� Started in 1995 by Dolly Parton for the children in her hometown in Sevier County

� Inspires a love of reading and provides quality books in the home

� In 2000, expanded from Sevier County & launched nationwide replication

� The Dollywood Foundation partners with communities willing to bring this gift to the children of their area


How Does the Program Work?How Does the Program Work?

� Children who are registered with the program receive a free, age-appropriate book each month from birth until the age of 5

� Community partners fund the cost of the books, postage and mailing

� Community partners register children and promote the program

� The Dollywood Foundation covers all the administrative costs


Why is the Program Important?

� Reading books helps essential brain development

� 90% of eventual adult brain growth is achieved in the first 3 years of life

� Just as a child develops language skills long before being able to speak, literacy skills are developed long before being able to read

� Reading books helps develop healthy physical and emotional responses


What are the Benefits?

� Promotes and encourages a love of reading among children

� Helps ensure that children enter kindergarten with a strong ability to read and an eagerness to learn

� Strengthens the literacy level of your community

� Promotes parent-child interaction and bonding

� Provides FREE, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children


How is it Working?

� Families read more often to their children

� Reading scores have improved

� Children are coming to school excited and better prepared

� Increased interagency collaboration

� Increased participation in community services

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Communities Report…


Chaffee County’s Program

� Launched mid-March, 2015 by a joint effort of Salida Sunrise and Buena Vista Rotary Clubs

� Salida supports the Salida School District R-32-J.� BV supports the BV School District R-31.

� Managed by the clubs’ charitable funds (501(c)(3))

� Developed joint contribution forms for both school districts

� Developed a joint registration form

� Worked as a team to launch the programs in both Salida and BV


Chaffee County’s Program Forms


Chaffee County’s Status

� Estimated 500 children are below 5 years of age in the Salida School District R-32-J.

� Zipcodes covered:

� 81201 – Salida

� 81242 – Poncha Springs

� 81227 – Monarch

� 81233 – part of Howard

� Estimated 350 children are eligible in Buena Vista School District R-31.

� Zip codes covered:

� 81211 – BV

� 81236 – Nathrop

� 81228 – Granite

� 80449 – part of Hartsel

ALL of Chaffee County is covered by this program


Chaffee County’s Status

Salida’s program:

� Currently 304 children are registered (>60% of those eligible)

� 83 have graduated

� >91 new births

� 5,290 books have been mailed

Buena Vista’s program:

� Currently 176 children are registered (>50% of those eligible)

� 46 have graduated

� >65 new births

� 3,159 books have been mailed


Salida Launch

� Launched March 18, 2015 at the Salida Regional Library during Children’s Story Time


Buena Vista Launch

� Launched March 20, 2015 at the Buena Vista Public Library during Children’s Hour


Public Awareness Activities

� Launch events with advertisement in the Mountain Mail and Chaffee County Times as well as interviews on the radio

� Pajama night at Kaleidoscope Toys

� Booth at Chaffee Home & Garden Show

� Moonlight Pizza Night

� Table at Salida Child & Family Fair

� Forms and posters or table-top displays at various doctor’s offices and community organizations

� 6 Month Birthday Party in Salida


Getting Children Registered

� Registration table at Salida Early Childhood Center and Children’s Discovery Ranch

� Table at Kindergarten registration day at Longfellow Elementary

� Table at Pre-school and Kindergarten registration days at Avery Parsons

� Forms and table-top displays at local preschools

� Calls made and forms sent to licensed day cares in Salida


Our Key Partners, the Libraries

� The Salida Regional Library and Buena Vista Public Library are key partners in providing this program to the community

� Forms are always available

� Completed forms are always accepted

� Adults are continually being made aware of the program


HRRMC Gets the Newborns

� The Family Birthing Center includes a letter from our clubs with information about the Imagination Library program as well as the first book, “The Little Engine That Could”

� The nurses encourage and even assist new parents in completing a registration form before they leave the hospital


6-Month IL Birthday Party

� Held September 16, 2015 at the Salida Regional Library to generate more awareness of and support for the program

� Advertised in the Mountain Mail & on radio

� Held during the Children’s Story time

� Offered cupcakes and cookies

� Gave out IL stickers and balloons

� Our “Ladybug” mascot read a story

� Spoke with parents and children to get feedback on the books and the program


6-Month IL Birthday Party, cont.


County Feedback on the Program

� Many parents mentioned that their children lovegetting a book in the mail and look forward to it each month.

� One small child even has his mother read the entire mailing label when the book arrives, and he exclaims “That is ME!”

� One parent indicated her child has shown more interest in books since he is now getting his own book each month, and he reads it over and over.

� Another parent commented on the great quality of the books being mailed to the children.

� The common thread was that the children enjoy receiving the books and they love reading them with their families.


The Cost of the Program

� Local cost for the books: $25/child/year

� Covers the cost of the books and the postage and mailing

� At 60% of children registered,� BV will spend $4375 per year

� Salida will spend $7500 per year

� At 100% of children registered,� BV will spend $8750 per year

� Salida will spend $12,500 per year

� Plus, some small amount for marketing


Fundraising

� Major grants received� Salida Regional Library

� Chaffee County Board of Commissioners

� Rotary District Grant

� BV School District Grant

� Community Support� Pajama Night at Kaleidoscope Toys

� Moonlight Monday at Moonlight Pizza

� Ad in Colorado Central Magazine

� Many individuals and local businesses

� Rotary club contributions


Sample Books

Group 1 (e.g., Children born in 2015)The Little Engine That Could Baby Signs Winnie-the-Pooh’s OppositesWhose Baby Am I? Baby Sounds My First SongsPeek A Boo Morning Sassy: Bedtime for Baby Corduroy Goes to the Doctor Llama Llama Nighty Night Look Look! Where’s My Nose?

Group 2 (e.g., Children born in 2014)My Farm Friends Little Cub All of Baby, Nose to ToesSpot Goes to the Library Dog Wants to Play Little Poems for Tiny EarsGood Night Gorilla Sassy: Baby’s First Words Pouch!Sassy: Let’s Count ABC Look at Me Corduroy

Group 3 (e.g., Children born in 2013)Mine-O-Saur Llama Llama Red Pajama I Am a RainbowSpot Goes to the Library ABCers Big Sister, Little Sister/Big Brother…Jake at Gymnastics Little Owl’s Night Tomie dePaola’s Mother GooseTea Party Rules My No, No, No Day King Jack & the Dragon

Group 4 (e.g., Children born in 2012)Meet Me at the Moon Old Bear and His Cub The Story of Ferdinand Truck Stop Read to Tiger Llama Llama & the Bully Goat Pretend Extraordinary Jane A House is a House For Me Madeline Little Burro Snowy Day

Group 5 (e.g., Children born in 2011)Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon Not Your Typical Dragon Caterina and the Lemonade Stand Luke Goes to Bat The Perfect Present Night House, Bright HouseLadybug Girl and Bingo Otis & the Puppy Miss Maple’s Seeds Bella’s Rules Legend of the Indian Paintbrush Bringing the Rain to the Kapiti Plain

Group 6 (e.g., Children born in 2010) If I Built a Car An Oak Tree Grows Tarra & BellaOne Cool Friend Betty Bunny Didn’t Do It At This Very Moment Boy in Number 4 Fly Butterfly Owl MoonTale of Peter Rabbit My Teacher Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

Chaffee County Imagination Library Program

Note: As of 2016, 2 books in each age group are bilingual, English/Spanish.


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chaffee county imagination library - microsoft · currently 304 children are registered ... no day...

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