A Legacy of Reading, Change in Hours, & Library Title Feature

Library News - A Legacy of Reading, Change in Hours, Library Title Feature

With a heavy heart, we’d like to highlight one of our greatest, Dolly Parton. Part of her incredible legacy lives on through one of our favorite contributions, the Imagination Library. Dolly was dedicated to inspiring a love of reading in young children by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five. What started in her hometown has now expanded to five countries, bringing books to children around the world.

In 1995, Dolly launched her Imagination Library to help young children in Sevier County, Tennessee. She was inspired by her father, whose inability to read and write prevented him from fulfilling all of his dreams. Dolly wanted to make sure other children had the opportunity to develop a love of reading from an early age, and she made that vision a reality. By 2004, the Imagination Library had expanded throughout Tennessee, reaching more and more young readers.

Dolly didn’t stop there. Her Imagination Library continued to grow. After expanding across the United States, the program began reaching children internationally. In 2006, the Imagination Library opened in Canada, followed by the United Kingdom in 2007. Today, the program is available in Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. In the U.S., one in six children under the age of five receives a book in the mail each month through the program.

So why is this important? Dolly’s program gives children access to books regardless of their family’s income. It gives parents and caregivers an opportunity to introduce their children to the joy of reading from a young age. We hope that early love of books grows into a lifelong love of learning and helps children find success as they grow.

The good news is that any child from birth to age five living in Schoolcraft County is eligible to register for the Imagination Library. Residents of Schoolcraft County can submit a registration form online or by mail. All you need to register is your child’s full name, an authorized adult’s full name, an email address and a mailing address.

Once your registration form has been received, books will begin arriving at your doorstep in approximately eight to ten weeks. Books will continue to arrive each month until your child turns five or you move out of an area covered by the program.

Need some help filling out the online registration? Stop by the library and we can help you register using one of our computers or your personal device. Prefer to mail in your registration? Registration pamphlets are available in our children’s section.

Dolly Parton was a remarkable woman who left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten. Thankfully, the Imagination Library continues her mission of putting books into the hands of children. We are so grateful for the gift she has given to generations of young readers.

In honor of Dolly, let’s open a book today, whether it’s for ourselves or for one of the little ones in our lives.

A Change in Hours is coming to the Manistique School & Public Library. Starting Tuesday, September 8, the library will return to its normal hours of operation. The library will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. 

A monthly calendar of programs and events can be found on the library website and Facebook page. We hope to see you at the library soon!

Library Title Feature - Destination Funeral, by Paige Harbison

A fresh take on Groundhog Day with a dash of Practical Magic meets the magical escapism of One Italian Summer in this heartfelt and hilarious novel following a friend group so damaged that only a funeral could bring them back together. "This offbeat, by turns funny and heartbreaking journey is absolutely bursting with heart, and its richly painted characters will stick with you long after the last page." ―PEOPLE 

Library Hours:  Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Tuesday and Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Library Contact Information:  Phone: (906) 252-4316, Email: mspl@manistiqueschools.org, Website: https://www.manistiquelibrary.org.