BCPS Joins Forces with Kiwanis Club to Promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for a Brighter Future

Botetourt County Public Schools, in collaboration
with the Kiwanis Club of Botetourt, is thrilled to announce an innovative partnership to bring
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to our youngest residents. The Imagination Library is
focused on improving early childhood literacy and ensuring that every child has the opportunity
to explore the world of imagination through the magic of books. The school division is taking an
active role in promoting preschool reading skills, which form a critical foundation for future
academic success and lifelong learning.
The local Kiwanis club is a community service organization that has sponsored children literacy
programs, such as free dictionaries for elementary students, for more than 20 years. As an
official Program Partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the club is passionate about
bringing this program to our community. This latest initiative intends to better prepare children
for school, so the partnership with Botetourt County Public Schools presents many synergies.
Studies in other counties who have adopted the Imagination Library have shown favorable
returns for investing in this age group.
An early goal of this team is to register as many eligible children as possible who may benefit the
most from the Imagination Library. This renowned program, founded by the legendary country
singer Dolly Parton, focuses on sending free, high-quality books to children from birth to age
five, encouraging early literacy and parent-child bonding through reading. By receiving a new
book every month, children enrolled in the program are exposed to a variety of stories and ideas,
fueling their imaginations, and laying the groundwork for future academic success.
“The power of books to shape young minds is immeasurable. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
is a gateway to a world of learning, creativity, and discovery for our youngest learners,” said Dr.
Jonathan Russ, Superintendent of Botetourt County Public Schools. “Partnering with the Kiwanis
Club of Botetourt and the Imagination Library program allows us to extend our commitment to
education beyond the classroom and into the hearts and homes of our community members.”

“Reading is an essential life skill. Research tells us that during the pre-school years is when
most of our cognitive growth occurs, so children who are not exposed to reading books during
this period can encounter future challenges. It will take creative community efforts like this
initiative to improve the overall reading performance of our youngest students,” remarked John
Plenge, Kiwanis Club President. “I am so encouraged by the early support of community
partners like Altec, Inc., Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative, and Botetourt County Public
Schools who have made this rapid start-up possible. There is more work to do, but we are laying
the groundwork for a brighter future for generations to come.”
The Kiwanis Club has already enrolled one-third of its goal of reaching 1000 children. Families
interested in enrolling their children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library can do so by visiting
https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/find-my-program/. The program is open to all families with
children aged birth to five in Botetourt County, regardless of income level. The process is
simple, and once enrolled, families can look forward to receiving a carefully selected, ageappropriate book in the mail each month.
This partnership between Botetourt County Public Schools, the Kiwanis Club of Botetourt, and
local businesses underscores the significance of community collaboration in driving positive
change. By prioritizing early childhood literacy and making books an integral part of children’s
lives, this partnership is poised to create a lasting impact on the educational journey of Botetourt
County’s youngest learners.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Michael Moser, Communications Specialist 143 Poor Farm Road Fincastle, Virginia 24090
Phone (540) 473-8263 Fax (540) 473-8298 www.bcps.k12.va.us