Imagination: Program promotes reading

COLUMBUS - Opening Christmas presents is one of the wonders of childhood.

Imagine a child getting a gift every month - one that will benefit him or her throughout a lifetime.

That's exactly what happens for the young participants in Imagination Library, a new program sponsored by the Columbus Area United Way.

Tim and Carla Hottovy's children are three of the almost 700 recipients of books mailed each month to local homes through Imagination Library.

"They look at them right away. They enjoy them," Carla said. "We all sit on the couch and read them together."

Books for each of the Hottovy children are mailed separately in the child's name. Carla said the program enables the family to spend quality time together as they share the benefits of reading.

Begun in Columbus in August, with expectations of serving about 500 area children, Imagination Library is administered by Dolly Parton's Dollywood Foundation.

After parents sign up for Imagination Library - at various locations throughout town - their child or children will receive a free, hardback book in the mail each month until their fifth birthday. To be eligible, children must be age 5 or younger, and their parents or guardians must either live or work in Columbus. Children of Excel employees in Schuyler also are eligible.

Columbus Area United Way Executive Director Pat Heimes said funding for Imagination Library comes from the agency's Kids Count program, which is funded from a portion of the donations that are above the annual United Way campaign goal.

Because of the late start this year, only about $4,000 was spent on Imagination Library. For 2005, about $19,000 is earmarked for the Kids Count program, so there will continue to be adequate funding for the reading program.

During this year's United Way campaign, donors were asked to consider giving a 50-cent per week increase in their annual pledges to go toward funding Imagination Library and paying the majority of the $27 annual cost per child. Heimes said the campaign officially ends on the last day of the year, and as yet, there has been no tally of the number of dollars specifically donated toward Imagination Library.

Tami Shelton, who works with the program at the United Way office, said if you wish to sign your child up for the program, forms can be found at her office at 18th Street and 30th Avenue in the Family Resource Center; as well as Central Nebraska Community Services; Columbus Public Library; and several local businesses and daycare centers.

It takes about eight to 10 weeks before the age-appropriate books start coming. If a child is signed up at birth - which is explained in newborn packets distributed at Columbus Community Hospital - the first book sent out is "The Little Engine That Could." The last book sent out is "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come."

Shelton said she receives about three or four applications every day.

"It's very seldom we don't get any," she said.

For more information about Imagination Library, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com or call Shelton at 564-5661.