Through the Imagination Library, Manchester children ages 0 – 5 are able to receive 12 books a year mailed to their home for free.

Books and reading are essential to the development of young minds. In November, a number of Manchester organizations came together and began accepting applications to have free books mailed to the homes of area children, from birth to age 5 through an international program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Manchester resident Shannon Brown did much of the groundwork to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Manchester. The Imagination Library mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, once a month, no matter their family’s income.

“We already have 101 Manchester children signed up for books,” Brown said. “With about 53 percent of the eligible population already signed up, that puts us where most programs are in year 3 month 8 of their programs!”

Brown added that this quick success happened with the help of Kathy Diamond and her hard working staff at the Manchester District Library, Miss Melissa Yekulis at Klager Elementary, and “our very own book fairy from Klager Elementary.” She stated, “With their support of spreading fliers, collecting fliers and making sure I can get the information to register our children, we have grown by leaps and bounds.”

This effort would not have been possible without the Manchester Ladies Society, and the financial help of founding sponsors Manchester District Library, the Manchester Men’s Club, C. A. Brown Welding and Fabrication, and a generous donation from a local family.

Because the program grew much faster than anticipated, the current monthly cost for maintaining this program has gone above what Brown first expected while talking to the founding sponsors. If businesses, clubs, groups, or individuals would like to donate to the cause, please contact Shannon Brown at smqueirolo@yahoo.com or The Manchester Ladies Society at manchesterladiessociety@gmail.com. The program costs $2.10 per child, per month to operate which covers the cost of the book and mailing to the child.

Organizers want to eventually enroll 100% of Manchester’s eligible children! If you have a child in the 48158 zipcode under the age of 5 not already enrolled and receiving a free book monthly, you can register them online at https://imaginationlibrary.com/ or by picking up a paper form at the Manchester District Library.

If your organization or business has a community board or a way to pass out fliers to families with young children, please contact Shannon and she will get you fliers and all the information needed.