Imagination Library fosters love of reading for Carter County children

Published 2:15 pm Tuesday, February 4, 2025

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Carsen and Riley Edwards, daughters of Logan and Cynthia Edwards of Hampton, enjoy reading books they receive through the Imagination Library, a program dedicated to fostering early childhood literacy.

Research shows that children who read on grade level by the end of third grade are more likely to meet and exceed academic expectations. The Imagination Library, an early childhood literacy initiative, helps nurture a love of reading in families like the Edwards’.

Through the program, children from birth to age 5 receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month, regardless of family income. Currently, 91.43% of Carter County children are enrolled, meaning more than 2,200 books are sent out monthly, making Carter County/Elizabethton City the third-largest affiliate in Tennessee. Organizers continue working toward 100% participation.

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Although founded by Dolly Parton, the Dollywood Foundation provides book selection and volume purchasing, while half of the funding comes from the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation. The Carter County/Elizabethton City Imagination Library Board must raise the remaining $2,500 per month, relying on community contributions.

For more information or to donate, contact the Imagination Library Community Awareness Committee, chaired by Dr. Billye Joyce Fine, with Creola Miller serving as president.