10/8/2007 Daviess County children to receive free copies of 'The Little Engine That Could' By Joy Campbell Messenger-Inquirer In November, nearly 200 Daviess County children from newborn to age 5 will be getting a hardbound copy of "The Little Engine That Could" in the mail. It will be the first book in many of these children's in-home libraries, with the promise of more to come. Imagination Library of Daviess County is ready to launch, and organizers are prepared to place the first book order next week. Best of all, the books are free to children who are registered. "This is a massive undertaking," said Tracy Marksberry, executive director of The Learning Community. "We have 7,000 children in this age group that could potentially be registered." A core leadership group planted the seeds for The Imagination Library in January after a meeting with a representative of the Dollywood Foundation. Imagination Library was developed in 1996 by Dolly Parton for her home county in east Tennessee. She provided every preschool child in Seveir County a library of books. The program quickly grew with support from the legislature to cover all Tennessee children from birth to age 5. Imagination Library is now an international program. A study the Dollywood Foundation commissioned in the late 1990s showed that parents in the program read more to their children and saw the importance of reading. The Junior League of Owens-boro and The Learning Community are taking lead roles in the children's initiative and have developed partnerships with other individuals and community groups to get it going in Daviess County. "We have developed A Reading Initiative Signature Project, and the Imagination Library is a good fit underneath that," said Jenny Inman, Junior League president for 2007-08. "We'll do other projects, too, as part of A Reading Initiative." The Junior League is providing a $10,000 financial sponsorship as well as volunteers to register children. The civic group also is responsible for the Imagination Library's data base and is the U.S. Post Office liaison for the program, Inman said. The program is free for all children -- funded through grants and donations. But if families are financially able to pay for it, they can donate $30, which is the cost to cover one child for a year. "That way, we can reach more kids," Inman said. Organizers have raised $60,000 so far. Much more is needed. The "champions" -- who have contributed $5,000 or more are Owensboro Medical Health System, Junior League, John and Elaine Hall and Daviess County Early Childhood Council. Two other major gifts, an anonymous donation of $20,000 and $15,000 from the city of Owensboro, put the project at $60,000. "That's where we thought we needed to be to start registering kids," Marksberry said. The total includes a host of other donations from $30 up, she said. Grant applications also are pending. On Friday, 170 kids were registered. Books are ordered one per month, and the first order will be place Oct. 9. Any applications received before then will be processed with that, and the first books will be received in November. "The steering committee is so excited," said Nancy Roberts, area coordinator of Audubon Area Child Care Resource and Referral. "And I'm just relieved that our first book order is here for 170 kids. And each month that number will increase as we market it." Roberts, who has been on the steering committee from the start, said after 10 months of planning, she is elated at how far the initiative has progressed. "This will be an ongoing effort, and there is a lot left to do," she said. "We will constantly be asking people to support this as we grow." The program has so many partners now, and that speaks volumes for the project, Roberts said. Next steps include a kickoff activity Oct. 16, organizing a fundraising committee and registering more kids at community events. Junior League volunteers will be leading a registration drive at Reid's Apple Festival this year, Marksberry said. "The Junior League has a lot of plans to help us reach children who need the books the most," she said. "We're excited about having them as a partner." ---- To Register -- Visit The Learning Community Web site at www.GOLearningCommunity.com or www.imaginationlibrary.com and fill out a registration form. -- Registration forms also are available at the Green River District Health Department, Daviess County Public Library and other locations. -- Send registration forms to the Junior League of Owensboro, P.O. Box 1703, 42302. To Make a Donation -- Checks should be written to Imagination Library of Daviess County and mailed to The Learning Community at P.O. Box 782, 42302. To Learn More -- Attend a meeting at 1 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Greater Owensboro Commerce Center, 200 E. 3rd St. where organizers will announce details of the program.