Reading program being brought to preschool children

CHESTER - Library staffs and sponsors will stress the importance of reading to very young children when they launch Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Hancock County later this month.

Each of the three public libraries in Hancock County will introduce the program, enabling any Hancock County child from birth to age 5 to receive an age-appropriate book each month at no charge, said Sue Thompson, children's specialist at Lynn Murray Memorial Public Library in Chester.

The first event in Hancock County will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Mary H. Weir Public Library in Weirton, said Jennifer Dubez, children's librarian.

Anna Raines, director of Swaney Memorial Library, New Cumberland, said the launch event at Swaney Library will follow from 3-7 p.m. Feb. 25. She noted Hancock County residents may attend the events at any of the libraries as their schedules permit.

Thompson said events at Lynn Murray Memorial Library will be 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 26 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 27.

Raines said any adults unable to attend the launch events may register at any of the libraries during regular library hours following the launch event dates. She stressed the program is open to Hancock County residents, and a child's parent, grandparent or legal guardian must complete a registration form for a child to be eligible.

Children and adults are welcome to attend any of the events, said Raines. There will be special activities for the children, and adults interested in enrolling children will be able to get information about the program and the registration process.

Making the program available to Hancock County children is a joint effort of Hancock County libraries and the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, Raines said. She explained each child registered will receive a book in the mail each month that is appropriate for their age.

Children in the same household register separately and can each receive their own books, Raines said. An infant would receive a book each month until age 5, while older children begin the program with books appropriate for their age at the time and continue receiving a book each month until their fifth birthdays.

According to information from the Dollywood Foundation, the children's classic "The Little Engine that Could" by Watty Piper, is the first book in the series. The last in the collection is "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!" by Nancy Carlson.

Foundation officials said Parton knows educators have identified reading to be the most important joint activity between an adult and child to prepare a child for school. The legendary entertainer started the program in her Smoky Mountain homeland, beginning with her home county of Sevier, Tenn., in 1996 they said. Then in 1999, Parton expanded the program to other communities nationally and internationally, Foundation members said.

For more information about the local events call the libraries at 304-797-8510 for Mary H. Weir Public Library at 3442 Main St., Weirton; 304-564-3471 for Swaney Memorial Library at 100 N. Court St., New Cumberland; or 304-387-1010 for Lynn Murray Memorial Public Library at 601 Railroad St., Chester.

(Tullis can be contacted at ntullis@reviewonline.com)