Imagination Library makes it to Mt. Pleasant

MT. PLEASANT — Parents across Mt. Pleasant can hardly contain their excitement as the Mt. Pleasant Public Library announced residents can now participate in the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.

Mt. Pleasant is now one of 59 library affiliates in the state to offer access to this program, which is available across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland.

According to the Imagination Library website, “Each month, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a high quality, age-appropriate book to all registered children, addressed to them, at no cost to the child’s family.”

But putting this program together takes considerable effort.

According to Mt. Pleasant Public Library Director Kayleigh Septer, the idea first came to the library as they began their strategic planning process.

“A woman from the state library came down and mentioned the program in one of our meetings,” Septer said. “And one of our library foundation members went and just ran with it.”

Septer said that Library Foundation Member and retired Van Allen Elementary Principal Don LeBlanc took care of all the behind-the-scenes steps necessary to bring the program to Mt. Pleasant, including getting the Library Foundation on board as a sponsor.

“I really thank Don [LeBlanc] for all the hard work he did to get it done because all I really did was send in the paperwork,” Septer said. “He’s the one that did all the background work and getting all that done.”

According to Septer, obtaining a financial sponsor for the program is a requirement for the Imagination Libraries.

“It’s right now primarily funded through the Library Foundation,” Septer explained. “However, people can make donations to the foundation to help fund this program. They can do that at the library.”

The Imagination Library website states that affiliates or sponsors take on the responsibility of enrolling children, promoting the program, and securing funds to cover costs.

“Books are 100% free to enrolled children because their Local Affiliate has secured funds to cover the cost of the books and the shipping fees,” the website states.

Thanks to DeBlanc’s drive and the foundation’s willingness to partner with the library and community, Septer says the program already has 156 children registered the very day the library made the official announcement.

That’s a lot of children, especially considering Septer said the library didn’t intend to launch the program until the new year.

“It really took off,” she said. “When I opened the program, I didn’t realize it would email people who were on the waiting list.”

After emails went out to those already waiting for an Imagination Library to come to the area, a post made it to Facebook letting the cat out of the bag, and Septer rolled with it.

“So, I said, OK, I’m just going to announce it now,” she said.

Despite the early announcement, Septer is excited about the Imagination Library and so are families across Mt. Pleasant.

“It is very exciting,” Septer said. “I’m very excited to bring it to the kids of Mt. Pleasant.”

Septer is especially excited for the way this program will benefit children of Mt. Pleasant.

“You can come to the library and check out books, but you have to bring them back,” she said. “These books are theirs. They can keep them, and they can build their libraries. They can build literacy and knowledge with their parents and their parents can read to them.”

Septer commented that program will help young children develop a love of reading and prepare them to enter kindergarten.

The excitement has quickly spread through Mt. Pleasant as Septer says she has seen numerous comments on Facebook talking about how great of a resource this is for the community.

“I did see a comment that said their kids get excited because they get to go to the mailbox for their ‘Dolly Books,’” Septer shared.

“We have been waiting for this! I filled out the online registration for my boys!” Mt. Pleasant mom Allie Liechty-Hultman commented on the Facebook announcement for the Imagination Library.

“Can’t hardly wait!!! Love this so much!” Amber Keagle, MPCSD elementary teacher and Mt. Pleasant mom wrote.

The program is open to all children living at an eligible 52641 Mt. Pleasant address from birth to 5 years old.

They can register online via a link at the Mt. Pleasant Public Library website or they can stop in at the library for assistance registering if they don’t have access to do so online.

The first books will go out to participants in February.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com