2014 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Support Early Literacy by Working with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library
• DG Garry Browne, District 9675 – moderator
• Christy Crouse, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Regional Director - Panelist
• PDG Juliet Riseley, District 9810 – Panelist
• Jenny Riley, Head of Community Impact at United Way Australia - Panelist
Presenters
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library overview
• Imaginational Library Australia: Dollywood Foundation, Rotary, and United Way partnership
• Partnership in Action: program expansion and replication in your local community
• Questions
Agenda
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Christy Crouse | Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Promoting Social Change One Book at a Time
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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | History
• Developed in 1995 by Dolly for her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee, USA
• Inspires a love of reading
• Guarantees all children will have quality books in the home
• A program about inspiration and imagination
Tribute to her father
A way to give back to her
hometown of Sevier
County, TN
Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Operations
• DWF partnerships promote literacy and serve children
• Children receive a free monthly book from birth to age 5
• Books are delivered by postal mail, personally addressed to children
• Books are age appropriate and customized for the program
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Research Driven
• Reading aloud to children has long lasting positive impacts
• Correlation between reading to preschoolers and language development, high school readiness, family bonding, and community bonding
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Current Stats
• Over 56 million books have been mailed since 1996
• 1,400 Imagination Library programs operate in four countries
• 720,000 children receive an Imagination Library book each month
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Partnership Support
Rotary and United Way Support is VitalOver 300 Rotary clubs and United Way agencies chamption the Imagination Library in four countires
Partners’ Primary Support:• Financial• Participant Database• Early Education Advocacy
and Strategy• Registration
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
“If books make kids feel special then kids will feel the books are special” – Dolly Parton
Juliet Riseley | Imagination Library Australia: a partnership between Rotary, United Way, and The Dollywood Foundation
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Partnership Formation
“‘Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on till you come to the end: then stop’"
Partnership Precedent
"Every adventure requires a first step. Trite but true, even here"
Greater Impact through Partnership
“‘I could tell you my adventures — beginning from this morning,' said Alice a little timidly: 'but it's no
use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then’"
Components for Successful Partnership Expansion
“Alice – ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.”
Program Impact
Measureable and proven program impact
Jenny Riley | Imagination Library Australia: Impact and Expansion
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Imagination Library Australia | Launch
Leading the way to a more literate and successful Australia
July 2014 – June 20143 clubs
4 communities 12 months
220 children
2000 books
Imagination Library Australia | 5 Year Goal
July 2014 – June 201930 clubs
40 communities 5 years
20,000 children
100,000 books
Imagination Library Australia | Pioneers
Rotary District 9810• Rotary Club of Noble Park (July 2013) – 100
children, 784 books• Rotary Club of Healesville (Dec 2013) – 21
children, 38 books
Rotary District 9670• Rotary Club of Corrimal (Feb 2014) – 67 children,
107 books
Imagination Library Australia | Club support
• Advocacy: sign up days, reading mornings• Publicity: media attention about the program and
importance of books and reading to young children
• Fund raising: Lord Mayor’s Trust $5k in Noble Park
• Partnerships: connected local partners (ie: Paint the Gong REaD)
• Mobilisation: Mobilised community, business, and local government around early education and literacy in Australia
Imagination Library Australia | Implementation
• Clubs “sign up” to run a local Imagination Library• Raise 3 months worth of funds to cover books (ie:
$1,800)• Print sign up forms for participants to register for
the program• Sign up children and parents!
Imagination Library Australia | Implementation, continued
United Way Australia/The Dollywood Foundation’s roles• Information Packs (pick one up today!)• Getting Started Packs• Fundraising Pack• Sign up Forms• Promotional material• Book Ordering Training• Access to a vast network across Australia:
Facebook, phone hook up, annual meetings• Ongoing support from a dedicated Dolly Parton
Imagination Library Coordinator
Expanding and replicating the Imagination Library program
How can you help?
Take up the challenge to CHAMPION an Imagination Library in your community:
• Lead the way to literacy• Use your local knowledge and networks• Get people involved in the program• Improve your community
Questions?
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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Booth in the Billabong House of Friendship Booth 116
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