Even as a child, I was a voracious reader. Oh, of course, my parents read to all of us at bedtime when we were little, but of the three of us, I am the only one who began at about the age of 8 spending all of my free time off in some corner with my nose stuck in a book. The local librarian knew I would be there on Saturday morning without fail to return the stack from the week before, and she always had another stack ready for me to check out. As I got older, I began reading more from the school library, but I still always had a stack of books somewhere ready to go.
And because of that, my world was so much larger that it would have been for a country girl living in small town rural America in the 1950s and 1960s, with very little television, no Internet and no social networks.
There is a national program with which you may not be familiar, that offers very young children an introduction into the world through reading. That program is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and it is administered locally by the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce.
The program was started locally in 2008 under the secondary name "Books from Jan." It was dedicated to the late Jan Gurley, who spent many years of her life promoting education and literacy. A memorial fund set up after Gurley's death, and an endowment set up by That Bookstore In Blytheville, were used to implement the program in the Blytheville, Gosnell and Armorel area.
Dolly Parton began the nationwide plan in Tennessee. On the Dolly Parton Imagination Library website, Parton explains that growing up as a poor child, books were very important to her, and she wanted to ensure all very young children had the opportunity to have good books to read.
Very simply, the program is open to all children ages birth up to their fifth birthday, at no cost. There is no financial requirement, the kids just have to reside in the Blytheville, Gosnell and Armorel area and be younger than 5 years of age. They receive a book in the mail in their name once a month beginning about 8 to 10 weeks after they register, and receive one right up until their fifth birthday.
The program is funded locally through the "Greater Blytheville Foundation" by donations. Most donations are generated by the "Stardust on Blytheville" events. However, the Blytheville Rotary Club has become a major contributor to "Books from Jan," and many local civic clubs and organizations, as well as businesses and industries, have made contributions.
More than 300 children in this area are currently receiving one book each month because of this program, so of course more donations are always needed and welcomed. Anyone wishing to make a donation or in partnering with the Chamber in supporting this program, should call Betty Koval at 870-762-2012.
And if you live in the Blytheville area and have a child under the age of 5, you can enroll them in this program for free. The books are delivered each month free of charge. And you will have the joy of seeing those little faces light up every time you sit down and read their very own books to them.
For more information, call Betty at the Chamber at the number listed above.
I am always glad to hear from my readers. Please send me your comments at the email address listed at the end of this column.
plenbooks@live.com