Illinois families with infants and toddlers now have access to free children鈥檚 books that can be sent directly to their home, regardless of their income.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced the official launch of the state鈥檚 partnership with Dolly Parton鈥檚 Imagination Library, a program founded by the country music legend in 1995 in her home county in east Tennessee. It now sends free books every month to nearly 3 million children in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.
鈥淭oday, I couldn't be prouder to announce that the Imagination Library is working with the state of Illinois to begin our journey to provide every child under the age of five an opportunity to receive a free book delivered to them every single month,鈥� Pritzker said at an event at the Bloomington Public Library.
Pritzker first that the state had formed a partnership with the Dollywood Foundation, Parton鈥檚 philanthropic organization, after Illinois lawmakers included $1.6 million in this year鈥檚 budget to fund the state鈥檚 share of the program. Other funding comes from the Dollywood Foundation and local, county-based organizations.
Since then, about 44 local programs have been operating in the state, serving roughly 4 percent of eligible children. But Dollywood Foundation executive director Nora Briggs said the goal is to reach all of the estimated 755,000 children under age 5 in Illinois.
鈥淲e know that nothing is more basic, more essential, more foundational to a child's success in life than the ability to read,鈥� Briggs said. 鈥淭he research is clear. We cannot wait until kindergarten for children to have access or exposure to books. It must happen early. It must start in the home environment. And reading at home requires books.鈥�
People who are interested in enrolling their child in the program can find their local provider on the 鈥渃heck availability鈥� tab located at . From there, applicants submit basic information including their address, their child鈥檚 name and date of birth, and the parents鈥� information.
Once a child鈥檚 eligibility is approved, they will start receiving one book each month, addressed to them. Each child within an age group receives the same monthly book. Books on the distribution list are chosen by a panel of early childhood literacy experts who review potential titles for inclusion in the distribution list.
In addition to funding the Imagination Library program this year, lawmakers also approved Pritzker鈥檚 鈥淪mart Start Illinois鈥� initiative that will provide for early childhood programs, including expanded access to preschool, wage support for child care workers, early intervention programs, and home visiting programs.
鈥淲e're making our mark on every aspect of early childhood, and working with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library literacy efforts will begin now at the earliest ages,鈥� Pritzker said. 鈥淚llinois is well on its way to solidifying our status as the number one state in the nation to raise young children.鈥�
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