By Jessica Moore

Staff Writer

This week, Sept. 15-21, has officially been proclaimed by Gov. Bill Haslam as Imagination Library Week in Tennessee. During this week, local Imagination Library affiliates in all 95 counties will work to boost enrollment across the state by bringing awareness of the book program to communities.

This year's events will celebrate the 215,000 Tennessee children under the age of five who currently receive one high-quality and age-appropriate book delivered to their homes at no cost to the family (regardless of income), as well as the fact that more than 18.5 million books have been delivered to Tennessee children across the state since 2004.

The Imagination Library first came to Marshall County in 2005. Since its beginning, Marshall Counties Imagination Library has sent out over 75,000 books, and between 950 and 1,000 books per month depending on enrollment. The Imagination Library works solely on a public/private partnership; they do not receive any funding from taxes -- all money is raised. Marshall County educators working for the Board of Education who choose to have money withheld from their checks each month provide about half of the funding needed for Imagination Library. The other portion is made up of donations from many of the local service organizations including the Lewisburg Rotary Club and the Chapel Hill Lions Club. Other groups who contribute include the Cornersville Lions Club and the Lewisburg Lions Club, as well as the Marshall County Retired Teachers Association, the Delta Kappa Gama Sorority, and various smaller organizations, individuals, and memorials. "The Imagination Library here in Marshall County really has been blessed because we have had many supporters," said Chair Peggy Hubbard.

All of Tennessee's 407,000 children have access to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The program began in 1996 as a gift from Dolly Parton to the children in her hometown of Sevierville, Tenn. Approximately $24 annually ($2 per book) provides for the purchase and delivery of 12 books to one child. With funding support from the Tennessee General Assembly, various foundations, individual donors, and a host of private corporate sponsors in each local community, the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation matches ($12 per child) all funds raised by each of Tennessee's Imagination Library program affiliates. This is a powerful public-private partnership unlike any other in the United States. Tennessee is the only state to have the Imagination Library program in every one of its counties. The partnership is even there to help a distressed county's Imagination Library stay afloat.

The Marshall County Imagination Library does not spend a penny of its money on anything other than books. Postage, printing, etc has all been graciously donated. Not one book has failed to be sent due to funding. "People have been very generous to us. I am very proud to be a part of it," said Hubbard.

According to the Governor's Books From Birth Foundation, an increasing amount of research points to the universally positive impact of having books in the home. Imagination Library participants from both low-income to middle-income households arrive at kindergarten more prepared to learn than non-participants. A 2010 study indicated that simply having more books in the home correlates to a child's completing more years of formal education.

"Books in the home help children develop an imagination even if they can't read yet. Having these books in the home is going to make an impact on them," said Hubbard.

The Marshall County Imagination Library is currently looking for board members. For information on becoming a board member, call Peggy Hubbard at (931) 359-3998. For more information on the Imagination Library visit usa.imaginationlibrary.com