Free books available for kids in two area counties
COLUMBUS – Parents, guardians and caregivers in Ashland and Richland counties can now register children, from birth to 5 years old, to receive a free book every month through a partnership with Easterseals, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the Ohio Governor’s Office, according to a news release from Easterseals.
Leaders from Easterseals central and southeast Ohio met with Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine and Ohio first lady Fran Dewine about efforts to expand the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library (OGIL) Program statewide.
Leaders from Easterseals central and southeast Ohio, an affiliate of the OGIL Program sponsoring Ashland, Hocking, Gallia, Jackson, Pike, Richland, Scioto, Vinton and Meigs counties, said that the OGIL Program is now active in all 88 Ohio counties.
The OGIL Program, funded by the Ohio legislature for two years and in part by Molina Healthcare and other various partnerships, helps promote early childhood literacy in children from the time they are born until they turn 5 years old by providing a new book to that child every month.
The books are free to the child, with the state providing a dollar-for-dollar match with Easterseals Central and Southeast Ohio.
Fran Dewine said she is “so excited that as of today, all children who live in Richland and Ashland counties can now receive the benefits of the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library!”
In 1995, Dolly Parton launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. The new program gave each child a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age appropriate books directly to their homes, Dolly wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could ensure that every child would have books.