MANSFIELD — Hello again, Dolly.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library has returned to Richland County through a collaboration of Richland Public Health, Richland County Youth & Family Council and the local Community Health Access Project.
The announcement about the popular literacy program came Tuesday morning during a Richland County Board of Commissioners meeting.
In the program, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio mails one age-appropriate book to children between birth and five years of age, at no cost to the families involved.
To learn more or to enroll a child between the ages of birth to five years old in the local Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, visit Richland Public Health’s website.
Commissioner Tony Vero said Richland County had a flourishing Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program years ago, which he said began to lag after an attempt to regionalize the effort.
He said program officials contacted him last year and said Richland County was one of the few counties that didn’t have the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
“I said that didn’t make sense because I signed my daughter up when she was born and I knew we were supportive of it,” Vero said. “We’re all very excited to have it back.”
Dr. Julie Chaya, Richland County’s health commissioner, said just 4,459 (66 percent) of Richland County’s age-eligible children are registered. She said local officials are determined to reach 100 percent.
“We are thrilled to spearhead this initiative and provide the children of Richland County the opportunity to read, learn and grow with their families,” Chaya said.
“Extensive studies have shown that reading with young children is important for kindergarten readiness and improves health literacy,” she aid.
Officials said each book costs $2.20 per child per month. The total cost of the program in Richland County is $117,717 annually with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio picking up half the costs.
The remaining 50 percent ($58,858) is the responsibility of local donors and sponsors.
To help ensure the local program runs smoothly, the state Dolly Parton program will cover 100 percent of costs for the first sixth months.
Richland Public Health and the county’s Youth & Family Council will pay the local costs for the second six months.
“Although our organizations have made this investment to guarantee programming this year, we are in need of local sponsors, donors and volunteers to keep the Richland County Imagination Library alive and thriving in 2025,” Chaya said.
Organizations or individuals who wish to support the local effort can reach out to 419-774-4761 or chps@richlandhealth.org to learn more about the coalition and sponsorship/donor opportunties.
Commissioner Darrell Banks said it’s a great thing to have the program back in Richland County.
“Education is so founded on reading and it’s important to get children started early,” he said.
Commissioner Cliff Mears agreed and quoted former President Abraham Lincoln.
“He was asked once what was the greatest invention of all time. He said it’s books, because they allow the dead to speak to the living and the living to speak to the those yet unborn, which I think is very profound,” Mears said.
“Books are so important to a child and I’m just delighted that we’re going to be able to be a part of this in some respect,” he said.