Wood Buffalo Regional Library joined with Fort McKay Métis Nation, Athabasca Tribal Council and the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo to celebrate commitment to work together to foster a love of reading in young children.
An exciting event was held for the Imagination Library programs in the Wood Buffalo region of Alberta this past month! Four strategic partners came together to celebrate and commit to working together to foster a love of reading for children and families in their communities.
Surrounded by books, the Wood Buffalo Regional Library joined with Fort McKay Métis Nation, Athabasca Tribal Council, and the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo, to hold a wonderful ceremony. They commemorated their shared belief that literacy, starting at a young age, is important for bonding with parents & caregivers as well as establishing a long term love of reading. The commitment between Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and these four partners will serve as a tool in calls to reconciliation, as well as help newcomers set their children up for school readiness, and will remove barriers for families in accessing many books. Long time volunteer and champion of the Imagination Library, Julianne North Bourque, shared,
“The ceremony yesterday was exceptionally rewarding! Many great speeches with personal heartfelt stories, reminds us all on the board why we do this. And these organizations together we will help raise literacy rates, foster a love of reading and help set up children for success!”
Congratulations to everyone involved. What a wonderful way to celebrate all those who have worked so hard to get more books into the hands of more children!
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth to age five in participating communities within the United States, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada and Australia. Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, the program mails over 2 million books each month to children around the world.
The program is offered free of charge to families. Check Availability in your area and register a child for the Imagination Library, or find information to bring the program to your community and Start a New Program.