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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to come to all children in Miami County<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Preschool children in Miami County can now receive free books in the mail every month. Troy-Miami County Public Library is working with United Way of Troy, Piqua Area United Way, Tipp City Area United Way, and the Friends of the Library to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to all children in Miami County from birth through age five. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“Early childhood literacy is very important to the future success of our communities,” said Nancy Hargrove, children’s services coordinator at Troy-Miami County Public Library. “By working with the Dollywood Foundation, we can reach our goal of giving one book per month to every child enrolled in the program.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“In some states, prison’s calculate the number of bed’s they will need based on the literacy rates of third graders. Waiting until children are in kindergarten, or older, to begin teaching reading skills is just too late,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Imagination Library is a 60-volume home library for preschool children. It was created to stimulate children’s imaginations and encourage reading within the family at an early age. A panel of educators selects the books for the library each year, always beginning the series with a special copy of “The Little Engine That Could.” Each child enrolled in the program will receive one book each month by mail.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“This project is a winner for everyone involved,” said Richard Bender, executive director of the United Way of Troy. “We are excited to be able to bring books into the homes of the children in our community.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tipp City and Bethel Township children have had the opportunity to participate in Imagination Library for the past three years, thanks to the efforts of Tipp City Area United Way Executive Director Deborah Carr. Children in Newton Township also have been able to participate thanks to Joe Bledsoe. Those children will now be enrolled in the Miami County project. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“We hope that by making this a county-wide project, we will be able to generate interest throughout the entire county so we can reach as many children as possible,” said Rachelle Miller, director of Troy-Miami County Public Library. “We appreciate the efforts that have been made to this point and look forward to continuing to work with Deb and Joe as we move forward. We are also thrilled to have the support of the Troy, Tipp City, and Piqua United Way agencies, as well as the Friends of the Library.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Library staff decided to implement the project in honor of Ada Pressman, a former Troy resident who became a mechanical engineer in the 1970s during a time when few women entered the engineering field. She specialized in developing emergency safety systems for fossil-fired and nuclear power plants. In addition to the county United Way agencies, the program is being partially funded by monies donated to the library by Ada Pressman. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>By working with the Dollywood Foundation, this program can be implemented for only $25 per child enrolled per year. Anyone interested in more information, or in signing their child up is encouraged to call Nancy Hargrove at 339-0502, ext. 121. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img width=198 height=78 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CF07CB.F2E42FF0" alt=signature1><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'> Rachelle Miller, Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'> Troy-Miami County Public Library<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'> (937) 339-0502<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'> www.tmcpl.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>