IONIA - The Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ionia County offers children up to five years of age the opportunity to read well before they actually enter kindergarten.

After its implementation in January of 2007, county program organizers said the results have been fantastic and the evidence points to this program being an excellent facilitator for youth's future education.

There's just one problem: In order for the program to remain free to households of all incomes in coming years, they need to raise more funds.

"Right now, we're fine," said Ionia County Intermediate School District Superintendent Bob Kjolhede, who is one of the personnel in charge of fundraising for the imagination library. "But eventually, we're going to have 2,700 children enrolled annually and right now, almost half the money we get is from individual annual donors. That's something we're hoping to change."

In the coming years, Kjolhede said funding the program for 2,700 children means the imagination library would have to collect about $80,000. Typically, individual donors "sponsor" a child and give either $27 for one year or $135 for five years, with that money going toward a new book at the appropriate age level mailed to the child each month.

The books are purchased at a reduced price, too. Instead of $6 or $7 for a new book, the imagination library pays only $2.25 per child per month. The rest of the cost is picked up by the Dollywood Foundation.

In effect, no child or family in Ionia County has to pay a dime for these books because of local fundraising, but Kjolhede thinks long-term commitments could fund the imagination library more effectively.

Businesses, industries and corporations are all potential donators and could provide excellent long-term, tax-deductible funding solutions for the imagination library. What's more, Kjolhede said, is that it's an investment that makes a guaranteed return.

"Research shows that by investing in early childhood education, governments in partnership with private firms and non-profit foundations can reach extraordinarily high economic returns," said Kjolhede. "The benefits are low risk and long-lived."

Indeed, research from innumerable sources correlates early education with future success later on in life.

The Dollywood Foundation officials suggest children need to experience, listen or read 1,000 different books before the age of five to have the foundation skills to become a successful reader.

In most middle to upper class homes, this isn't a problem, but in areas stricken with poverty, children are read to less than 25 total hours before their fifth birthday.

"What I've seen in my 31 years, most children who act out are frustrated learners. In this day and age, you've got to have good reading skills, and if you don't, then you'll struggle," Kjolhede said. "Even mathematics is reading intensive these days. If a teenager isn't doing well in school they have a tendency to bail out because it's easier to fail in the eye of a teenager than it is to go to class and get Es because they can't read."

Community members are backing the program, too. Both Judge Robert Sykes and Ionia County Sheriff Dwain Dennis said the judicial system and law enforcement are taking a proactive - rather than a reactive - stance on crime.

The common denominator in their opinion was clear: The earlier children can read, the more positive their educational experience will be, the less likely they'll end up on the wrong side of the law.

Once again, statistics back the program. Nationwide, a National Public Radio study determined only five percent of prison inmates read above a fifth grade reading level.

In addition to reaching out to a broader group of potential donors, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ionia County will continue having regular fundraisers. On March 10, the Wagon Wheel Oak Room will host 'Story Book Night' for adults and children of all ages. They will host live music, serve food and will feature celebrity appearances including Cat in the Hat, Tigger, State Rep. Brian Calley and the Three Little Pigs.

Cost is $10 for children ages 10 and older, $8 for children between the ages five and 10 years old and children four years or younger get in free.

For more information on 'Story Book Night' or on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ionia County, call 527-4900.

Source:
By FRANK KONKEL
Sentinel-Standard writer
Published: Monday, February 25, 2008 11:40 PM CST
http://sentinel-standard.com/