Dolly Parton's
Imagination Library
The Gift that Speaks
Volumes for our
Community's Future!
Now open to children
under
five years of age in both the
Uniontown and the Laurel
Highlands School Districts
Uniontown
Public Library
24 Jefferson St.
Uniontown, PA 15401
724-437-1165
*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE ***
Free
Preschool Book Program Expands into
Laurel Highlands
Uniontown, PA - The Private Industry Council of
Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC), the Community Foundation
of Fayette County, Laurel Business Institute, and the
Uniontown Public Library are pleased to announce that the
Imagination Library program will be expanded to include
residents of both Uniontown and Laurel Highlands school
districts. Imagination Library is a national
literacy program originally launched by Dolly Parton in
1996 to foster a love of reading, promote the reading
development of preschool age children, and improve school
preparedness. The program provides free children’s
books to participants from birth to age five. Each
month a new, age appropriate book is mailed to every
enrolled child’s home. Currently over 730 communities
in 43 states, the District of Columbia, 6 Canadian
provinces and 1 Canadian territory are participating in the
program. The program previously was available locally
only to residents of the City of
Uniontown.
Lynne
Tharan, the new Library Director for the Uniontown Library,
is very excited about this amazing opportunity to expand
the program into Laurel Highlands and to continue to impact
the future literacy of children by fostering a familiarity
with books and reading. “We're thrilled to be able to
expand the Imagination Library to these areas. It's a
wonderful opportunity for parents and their children to
receive these books free each month. Studies show
that when there are books in the home and a parent reading
to the child, the child will have an advantage when they
begin school."
A
proponent of early care and education, the Private Industry
Council is thrilled to be part of this endeavor. Tim
Yurcisin, President of the Private Industry Council
encourages all Uniontown and Laurel Highlands families with
children under five to register for the Imagination Library
and make a commitment to read to their child every day.
According to Mr. Yurcisin, “Reading to your child
early and often improves their ability to be successful in
school and beyond”.
To
enroll your child in the Imagination Library program and
start receiving a free book each month for your child you
must:
•
Be a resident of the city of Uniontown or Laurel Highlands
School District with a child under five
•
Submit an official registration form available at the
Uniontown Library
•
Read to your child often
•
Notify the Uniontown Library any time your address
changes.
For
more information on the Imagination Library program, or if
you are interested in donating to the program, please
contact Lynne Tharan, Library Director at Uniontown Public
Library at 724-437-1165 or William Huebner at the
Private industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette,
Inc. at 724-437-2590.
Courtney DeCarlucci
Planner/Grants Writer
Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette,
Inc.
What is the Imagination Library?
click
here!