Twenty-two month old Rory Lieser settles down with his favorite book "Good Night Gorilla," which he received through the Imagination Library program. Photo by Erika Lieser

NEW ULM – This June the nationwide literacy initiative “Imagination Library” will turn 30 years old.

Imagination Library began in 1995 in Sevier County, Tennessee to increase literacy. The program was started by country singer and longtime literacy advocate Dolly Parton. Imagination Library is run through her non-profit “Dollywood Foundation.”

Through the program, families may enroll children under the age of five in a free book program. After the child is enrolled, every month they will receive an age-appropriate book until they age out of the program. There is no requirement to enroll in the program or income limit.

The program is free for any child under five. If a family has multiple children under five, each child would receive an individual book each month. The only real restriction on the program is each county needs a sponsor for the program.

In 2010, the United Way of Brown County agreed to sponsor the Imagination Library. United Way executive Director Sandra Juni said that in the last 15 years, 8,399 Brown County children have been enrolled in the Imagination Library, and she is committed to keeping the local program going.

Juni’s passion for promoting childhood literacy is shared by New Ulm’s Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE).

“I highly recommend Imagination Library to all my families,” Betty Uehling, the coordinator for New Ulm ECFE, said. “The program is fantastic. I hear such amazing feedback from the parents that receive the books.”

Uehling said literacy programs like Imagination Library have been extremely important in Minnesota since the passage of the Read Act.

“If books weren’t that important, the state wouldn’t have all the teachers getting the extra literacy training,” Uehling said. “There is value in early literacy.”

Another positive aspect of Imagination Library is the books sent are targeted to match the child’s age. Uehling said each kid is getting the right book for the right stage of development. In addition, the books are rotated around to make sure families do not receive repeats.

There is also value in sending a physical book to kids. Uehling said a child holding a book is different than a child holding a computer screen and scrolling through an app. With a physical book, the child is forced to turn the page.

Uehling used the children’s book “If You Give Mouse a Cookie,” as an example of another program benefit.

She said, “If you give a child a book, they are going to want to read it, or have someone read it to them.”

Erika Lieser, a Washington Learning Center special education teacher, supports the Imagination Library program as an educator and a parent.

Lieser has two children, Brooks and Rory, with a third child due in April.

“We’ve been getting books from Imagination Library since Sept. 2020,” Lieser said. She filled out the application for the program while still in the hospital after having her first child. The program has been a huge success for their family.

“Our oldest will run out to the mailbox to see if it’s his turn to receive a book or his brother,” she said. “That makes it fun.”

Even if the book is for Rory, Brooks is able to read the new book with his brother.

“Kids want someone to read to them,” Lieser said. “It is an important part of learning through reading.”

She said reading is also a way to help kids communicate in different ways and provides a better connection for kids than a TV or iPad.

Even the skill of turning a book page is important. Lieser said there are children who don’t have this skill when entering school.

Lieser said through the library program, she learned her youngest boy loves to read anything about animals. He always carries his animal books around. His favorite book he’s received through the program is is “Good Night Gorilla.”

Her older boy Brooks will read anything.

“He doesn’t care,’ Lieser said. “It could be a book about the seasons or the alphabet. He’s just excited the book has his name on it.”

All books mailed through the Imagination Library have the child’s name on the mailing address. Brooks Lieser loves seeing his name in the mail. Though under five years old, he is already able to identify his name because of the program.

The Lieser family is excited to add a third child to the Imagination Library program next month. This application will be submitted to United Way of Brown County.

Juni said as the sponsoring agent for Imagination Library in Brown County, United Way will accept all applications for the program year-round. United Way adds the new child to the database, which is submitted to the Dollywood Foundation. Typically, within four weeks, the child should receive a new book.

Most of the cost of the program is covered by the Dollywood Foundation, but the local sponsor is responsible for the shipping costs of the book. Juni said United Way of Brown County pays $2.50 per book sent to each child. Currently, there are 989 children enrolled in Brown County’s Imagination Library program, but this fluctuates as kids are added or age out of the program.

On average, United Way is paying around $2,500 a month to keep the Imagination Library in Brown County. With donations to United Way down over the last few years, Juni said there has been pressure to cut the program but said she does not want to give it up. She views it as one of the most valuable programs offered by Brown County United Way.

“Reading is my thing. It is my passion,” Juni said. “I was a teacher for 30 years, and my degree was in childhood education. I know the value of getting those kids to read at a young age.”

In order to keep the program solvent, Juni is seeking sponsors to help cover the local costs. She said if a sponsor wanted to cover the cost for a month or sponsor a certain amount of kids for a full year, this could greatly help the program. The cost of sponsoring a single child for a year is $30.

Those interested in sponsoring the local Imagination Library are asked to contact Brown County United Way at 507-354-6512. Donations can be mailed to United Way of the Brown County Area, PO Box 476, New Ulm, MN 56073.

Any family with preschool children residing in Brown County may apply to the Imagination Library program. Registration forms are available on United Way Brown County Area website.