Imagination Library instills love of learning

How to help — Visit imaginationlibrary.com; Contact information can be found at imaginationlibrary.com and searching for the Erie County partner using their ZIP code. — Send a check payable to Imagination Library of Erie County to the: * Erie County Community Foundation * 135 E. Washington Row * Sandusky, OH 44870 SANDUSKY — A national program with a massive local reach continues to create a love of reading among area youth. Those involved with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Erie County have achieved many successes as it relates to literacy and learning. But as a nonprofit, and on a limited budget, the program does seek the community's help to ensure it can still write more chapters of success stories. Anne McGookey, coordinator of the local reading program, administered through the Kiwanis Club of Sandusky, provided some information about her organization and how it helps community members: • Its purpose: "The mission of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is to instill a love of books, reading and learning by gifting children one free book each month beginning at birth until their 5th birthday." • Its history: "The Kiwanis Club of Sandusky is the local program partner serving all eligible children of Erie County, from birth to 5 years old. Ohio is a statewide program, so all children in that age bracket are able to be part of Imagination Library amassing a 60-book home library by their 5th birthday." • Its reach: "Imagination Library of Erie County serves a monthly average of 2,500 children who receive high-quality, award-winning books delivered directly to their homes free to the families. We know that children who have participated in and are participating in this program, even for three years, will enter kindergarten ready to learn. Many of these participants will score more than 15 points higher in kindergarten readiness than non-participants." • Its partners: "We have been proud to partner with Firelands' Health birthing center, which have done a phenomenal job of registering newborns while they are still in the hospital. This partnership has led the state of Ohio in newborn registrations for several years. And, beginning in August 2025, the Ohio Department of Health has partnered with the Dollywood Foundation — the flagship of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library — by offering parents the opportunity to register their newborns while completing their birth certificate forms in the hospital. This has lead to a definite increase in registrations throughout Erie County and all of Ohio." • Its celebrations: "We have many collaborations and assistance from local funders, but we recently joined with the Sandusky Library to celebrate our graduates, the 5-year-olds that recently aged out of the program. This event not only celebrated these kindergarteners' growing their personal library to 60 Imagination Library books but also encouraged them to continue their reading journey by signing up for their own library card." • Its goals: "In addition to continuing to promote the values and importance of early childhood literacy, we plan to coordinate with the Sandusky Library by implementing an Imagination Library parent participant survey. We want to collect data that will show how the program makes an impact on our area's families, inviting them to answer a variety of questions." • Its contact info: The mailing address is: — Kiwanis Club of Erie County — P O. Box 1686 — Sandusky, OH 44870 • Its call: "This project is the signature project of the Kiwanis Club and is our major service project and is administered voluntarily by members and other volunteers. We welcome assistance at a variety of events throughout the year. Interested individuals or groups can contact Anne McGookey at ahmcgookey@gmail.com" • Its need: "Donations to support Imagination Library are always needed. The annual cost per child for the home delivery of their books is $31.20. While this is a true bargain for 12 quality, educational books with 2,500 children in Erie County, funding assistance is welcome. People can donate in several ways: