When the Blaine County Commission met Monday in regular session, it was in front of a full house. The commissioners moved rapidly through the agenda until reaching item four, a proposal from the libraries in Blaine County to implement the Dolly Parton Imagination Library at its facilities.
The program would send one book each month for a year to all children under five years old in Blaine County who are signed up by a parent or guardian. Because the books are direct shipped and sorted by zip code, it will be limited to county children.
Parton began the program in 1995 through her foundation, but Oklahoma counties are hopping on the bandwagon now because the Department of Education has offered matching funds. That match will pay half the cost, or $1.05 per child per month. The librarians were asking the county to come up with the remainder of the costs, about $8,000 per year. Additionally, the match from the state has a limited window of eligibility.
The money will not go to the libraries, but instead directly from the Canton Friends of the Library 501 C3 non-profit to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, traveling from non-profit to non-profit.
The books arrive, addressed to the child, in the mail. If there is more than one child in a household, each child who is signed up will receive an age-appropriate book. For example, if there is a two -year-old and a fiveyear old in the home, each will be sent a different book, and they will arrive on different days.
“This is such a good opportunity for Blaine County to serve so many kids,” said Canton librarian Leanne Barnes. “It’s crucial for literacy skills to have (programs) for the youngest ages,” she added.
There are an estimated 638 children less than five years old in the county.
Watonga librarian Terri Crawford pointed out that the libraries serve everyone in the county but are funded by the municipalities in which they are located.
There was no hesitation on the part of the commissioners. “I think this is a good idea,” said Raymond Scheffler. Commissioner Mike Allen agreed. “It’s a great deal and anything that’s for the kids, I’m 100 percent behind,” Allen said.
The matter was tabled until next week, allowing County Clerk Jennifer Haigler time to consult with the auditor and make sure the county’s portion of the costs were from the correct account and the check was issued to the appropriate party.