Read to Succeed Buffalo (RTSB) in partnership with Erie County today announced that 3,456 children from across Erie County will be receiving their first book from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the coming weeks.

Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children from birth until their fifth birthday, with a goal of increasing literacy rates through increased exposure to print, through read-alouds at home. RTSB previously implemented the program in the city of Buffalo from 2012-2019, but funding issues forced the program to cease operations.

“Now, in partnership with other organizations, the Imagination Library is County-wide with RTSB covering nearly 60% of eligible infants, toddlers and preschoolers in the County’s most economically challenged zip codes,” said Anne Ryan, executive director of RTSB. 

Other community partners include New York State Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera, the Town of Akron, Frontier Central Schools and United Way have also committed to launching Imagination Library programs. “The support throughout the community has been incredible,” Ryan added.

Imagination Library can have a far-ranging and positive impact on children’s pre-literacy skills and school readiness. In re-launching the program RTSB and Erie County Deputy County Executive Lisa Chimera had a goal of serving those communities that had the highest number of eligible children but whose families may be struggling the most economically.

“Getting children exposed to language and print as infants and toddlers is incredibly important,” stated Deputy County Executive Chimera. “As a former reading teacher, I could always tell the difference between a child that was read and spoken with a lot at home verses a child who wasn’t exposed to books and language at an early age.  Imagination Library is an incredible opportunity to bring high quality, age-appropriate books into the home.”

RTSB, through this program, will be mailing a free, age-appropriate picture book to registered children until their 5th birthday. The books, mailed monthly, are personally addressed to each child. Each age-appropriate book has a note from Dolly Parton encouraging caregivers to read with their child and reading tips that help to foster conversation, vocabulary development, social emotional development and learning in infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Erie County’s investment in Imagination Library is a game changer but it cannot sustain the program. RTSB, along with many organizations throughout the State, are advocating for funding to support the program in perpetuity. 

“Reading aloud to children is an essential factor in early childhood brain development and one of the building blocks of cognitive functions and growth. But, according to Zero to Three, only 37% of parents read to their children daily,” continued Ryan. “Each book a child receives is an opportunity for their caregivers to bond with their children while building their brains through reading together.”

Visit https://www.readtosucceedbuffalo.org/imagination-library to learn more about the program and to sign up a child today.