Dolly Parton brings literacy programme to Rotherham - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 12-05-2007, 03:10 PM

Anthea Lipsett
Wednesday December 5, 2007
EducationGuardian.co.uk

Country superstar Dolly Parton swapped her high heels for wellies today as she "travelled through" South Yorkshire to open the first UK branch of her children's library in Rotherham.

The star launched her Imagination Library programme, which gives books to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, at the Magna Science and Adventure Park.

Founded by Parton in 1996 as a way to inspire children in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, the literacy programme gives registered children a new, age appropriate book each month from birth until they are five.

A local sponsor in each community pays for the books and the cost of posting them while Parton's Dollywood Foundation covers the overheads, selects the books and negotiates the cost.

Rotherham metropolitan borough council is sponsoring the programme for which around 15,000 children are eligible. Penguin will provide all the books and the Royal Mail will post them.

The first book in the 60-volume collection in the UK is Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Children will get their first books early next year.

Parton said: "I'm just thrilled beyond my wildest dreams at how my Imagination Library has grown from my home county in the US, all the way across the pond to the UK.

"I can't say enough about the kind folks of Rotherham who invited us here, and I look so forward to working with our local partners all across the UK to give books to as many kids as possible."

She said she hoped the library would fit in with "the many other wonderful programmes here that do so much to help children. Together, we can make a huge difference in the lives of so many little ones".

The Imagination Library already operates in more than 700 communities in 43 states in the US as well as Canada. To date, 417,000 participating children receive books, with 4.5 million books mailed this year and 11.6 million since the start of the programme in 1996.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/scho...222223,00.html

OH Nuts! · 12-06-2007, 03:35 PM

Such a great entertainer--I love her. And such a smart lady, who else do you know who's made over 8 million from one song? And she's a prolific song-writer too-another Carole King!

12-05-2007, 03:10 PM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	Dolly Parton brings literacy programme to Rotherham Anthea Lipsett Wednesday December 5, 2007 EducationGuardian.co.uk Country superstar Dolly Parton swapped her high heels for wellies today as she "travelled through" South Yorkshire to open the first UK branch of her children's library in Rotherham. The star launched her Imagination Library programme, which gives books to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, at the Magna Science and Adventure Park. Founded by Parton in 1996 as a way to inspire children in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, the literacy programme gives registered children a new, age appropriate book each month from birth until they are five. A local sponsor in each community pays for the books and the cost of posting them while Parton's Dollywood Foundation covers the overheads, selects the books and negotiates the cost. Rotherham metropolitan borough council is sponsoring the programme for which around 15,000 children are eligible. Penguin will provide all the books and the Royal Mail will post them. The first book in the 60-volume collection in the UK is Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Children will get their first books early next year. Parton said: "I'm just thrilled beyond my wildest dreams at how my Imagination Library has grown from my home county in the US, all the way across the pond to the UK. "I can't say enough about the kind folks of Rotherham who invited us here, and I look so forward to working with our local partners all across the UK to give books to as many kids as possible." She said she hoped the library would fit in with "the many other wonderful programmes here that do so much to help children. Together, we can make a huge difference in the lives of so many little ones". The Imagination Library already operates in more than 700 communities in 43 states in the US as well as Canada. To date, 417,000 participating children receive books, with 4.5 million books mailed this year and 11.6 million since the start of the programme in 1996. http://education.guardian.co.uk/scho...222223,00.html

12-06-2007, 03:35 PM	#2
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Such a great entertainer--I love her. And such a smart lady, who else do you know who's made over 8 million from one song? And she's a prolific song-writer too-another Carole King!