Imagination Library Launched

Cowra Council launched the innovative book gifting project, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, last Friday at the Cowra Library.

The program is set to improve the literacy levels of young children in the Cowra Shire, with 36 families having already registered for the program in Cowra.

Every newborn child in the Cowra Shire Local Government Area, registered in the program, will receive a free ageappropriate book every month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library from birth to the age of five, courtesy of $8 million in funding from the NSW Government.

“This is a project which deserves widespread support from across the community because it will deliver positive outcomes at individual, family and community levels,’ said Cowra Mayor, Cr Bill West said.

Initiated by Dolly Parton over 20 years ago, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has seen over 160 million books delivered to children in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Designed to connect parents and children through a love of reading, the library project has a proven track record of improving literacy rates and launching children on a lifelong journey of reading, learning and discovery.

All children born in 2022 and living within the Cowra Shire LGA will be eligible to access the program, irrespective of where they are born. Parents and carers will only have to complete a short registration form online at imaginationlibrary.com/au/affiliate/BBCOWRA/, or pick up a form from the Cowra Library or the Child and Family Health Nurses at Cowra Hospital.

The charity organisation, United Way Australia will work with Cowra Library and Cowra Council to administer the project.

For more information about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library or for further enquiries contact Cowra Library at cowra@cwl.nsw.gov.au or call 02 6340 2180.

• Topics:
• Literature / Writing