Imagination Library books start to arrive 11/23/2007 Organizers seek more signups, donations By Joy Campbell Messenger-Inquirer When Luke Austin, 4, and Ben Austin, 1, got their very own hardback copies of "The Little Engine That Could" in the mail last week from the Imagination Library, they wasted no time asking their mom, Andrea Austin, to read them. "We got them from the mailbox on our way to get their brother. ... They were so excited and wanted to read them right away, so we read it sitting in line while we picked up their brother from school," Andrea Austin said. Andrea and Mike Austin's third son, Stephen, 6, is in kindergarten at Utica Elementary School. The number of Daviess County children signed up to get free hardback books each month in the mail through The Imagination Library of Daviess County has soared to 1,107 from about 200 a month go when the program was launched. "The first books began arriving a couple of weeks ago, and we've been getting a lot of feedback from people who were excited about that," said Tracy Marksberry, executive director of The Learning Community. "Just this week we placed our second book order." A local steering committee that includes Marksberry premiered Daviess County's connection to the national Imagination Library in early October. "You can see how it's grown in just a month," Marksberry said. The program aims to give children from birth to age 5 their own library of popular books. Country-western entertainer Dolly Parton started the free book mailings. She wanted children in her home county to have books when they were most ready to learn. It's now an international program. While the books are free to the registered children, a local organization must commit to raise funds for the books and mailing, promote the program, register the children and enter the information into the database for the book orders. The Dollywood Foundation manages the database and delivers the books to the homes. Daviess County has nearly 7,000 children who qualify for the program. That presents the twofold challenge of outreach -- to get as many kids signed up to receive the books -- and fundraising -- to pay for the service. The cost is $30 per child. The Junior League of Owensboro is a lead partner with The Learning Community on the children's initiative. Several other partnerships have been established with other individuals and community groups to sustain the program. "All told, we've raised close to $70,000 so far, and that includes a few recent grants including notification from the Community Foundation (of Owensboro-Daviess County) of a $5,000 champion grant," Marksberry said. The group also has received grants from the Young Foundation, Yager Charitable Trust and the Owensboro Rotary Club Foundation. "With all of that, we've also had many smaller donations of $30, $60 and $90," Marksberry said. "We'll have to continue our fundraising to reach and serve all of the children we register." Word is getting out, she said. The Junior League has held activities at Rolling Heights, and its members registered a large number of children at the annual rummage sale. Marksberry said the top two education issues identified in the recent "We the People 21st Century Town Meeting" were the need for more community and parental involvement and greater preschool opportunities. "I'm so pleased that this program addresses both of those," she said. To Register Visit The Learning Community's Web site at GOLearningCommunity.com and go to The Imagination Library link. Brochures are available at the Daviess County Public Library, Green River District Health Department and numerous other locations. To Donate Send a contribution of any amount to : The Imagination Library of Daviess County at The Learning Community, P.O. Box 782, Owensboro, KY 42302.