Dolly Parton's Imagination Library News

Come on AMERICA we need your vote for People's Choice!

2010-02-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

S.D. Professionals, LLC produced "Kingdom Heirs LIVE at Dollywood" and now we are up for a PEOPLE's CHOICE AWARD!

Please click the following link to watch one song from LIVE @ Dollywood and to VOTE for SD Professionals, LLC!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW

Absolutley NO personal info is needed.....all you need to do is CLICK THUMBS UP!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE & HELP US WIN the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD ;D this year at the Telly's!

Dolly's Imagination Library nominates SD Professionals

2009-09-12T19:00:00.002-04:00

S.D. Professionals, a graphics and multi-media company, was nominated for consideration by long-time client, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

“Being a good community partner is imperative to S.D. Professionals,” states Doreen McCammon, director of operations for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. “Volunteering time for charitable events and donating thousands of dollars annually in services as in-kind donations. They are more than a necessary services provider, they are a partner in the spirit of how they operate and surround themselves with clients who share their values.”Companies making it into the top 150 in the nation will be reviewed by a panel of judges including comedian and television host Ellen DeGeneres. Three finalists will be chosen, and then voted on, by America. Winner receives national exposure on the NBC Today Show and $100,000 in grants and marketing by American Express.

With only a few hours of voting left SD Professionals is currently voted 1st in the nation and they need your help to hold onto the #1 position in NBC’s “Shine A Light Award”.

Please if you have not yet voted, we really need your help to win!

Go to: http://www.sdwebpros.com/vote for complete details and to cast your vote.Remember, a vote for SD Professionals is a vote for early childhood literacy…help us tell the world about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Vote for SD Professionals - NBC Shine A Light

2009-08-21T19:52:00.004-04:00

Please vote for S.D. Professionals, LLC for NBC's Shine A Light. You MUST REGISTER & LOGIN...we really need your vote!

CNN requests exclusive Dolly Parton interview from S.D. Professionals, LLC!

2009-08-18T19:18:00.001-04:00

While launching its newest endeavor, TheSmokies.TV LIVE BROADCAST, S.D. Professionals, LLC, captured the entire 24th Annual Dolly Parton Parade in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on their newest equipment addition, the RED ONE 4K camera. This special event began with the grand entrance of The Ambassador to The Smokies, Dolly Parton herself, and an exclusive interview, conducted by local radio personality, Tammy Kelly. Cheering fans of all ages, proud residents in Dolly's hometown of Sevier County, as well as members of her security staff and management team are all captured in this interview that was streamed live to the world simultaneously on private laptops, personal home computers and other mobile devices. TheSmokies.TV is a new media web broadcasting channel created by S.D. Professionals, LLC that features exciting entertainment and other newsworthy moments within the Great Smoky Mountain area, such as Celebrity Appearances, Craft Fairs, Rod Runs, Holiday Celebrations, Community Functions, Sports Events, Traditional Festivals and much more.

This new media created major interest with global fans of the music legend, who "clicked" to watch the parade and other entertainers who were also featured throughout the broadcast. As Dolly Parton continues to make headlines S.D. Professionals, LLC is there to capture each local story as it unfolds.

CNN International approached S.D. Professionals, LLC and asked if they would share this exciting footage of Dolly Parton as a contribution for the "REVEALED" video on CNN International. The singer-songwriter tells CNN about her dedication to her image and how she worked her way from a small country town to the world stage. "I always thought when I was young, if I ever made it -- and I hoped I would, and dreamed that I would -- I thought I would love to be able to come home and do something special to honor my family," she said. "You always want your people to be proud of what you have accomplished." Parton told CNN she's accomplished everything that she set out to do and she has no plans to ever step out of the spotlight.

Click below to watch Dolly Parton and all of CNN's coverage:

Dolly Parton: Revealed http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/18/dolly.parton.country.music/index.html

Dolly Parton’s Homecomin’ 2009 train rolls in!

2009-07-24T11:49:00.003-04:00

Dolly Parton’s Homecomin’ 2009 event, which is linked with the hugely successful Imagination Library kicked off on July 8th when filming took place at the Music Road Convention Center and the Dollywood Adventure Park both located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Dolly's Imagination Library donates over half a million books monthly to children from birth to age five across three countries each and every month!
The film, produced by S.D. Professionals, LLC in association with TheSmokies.TV, will be made available online to the public for one week only - August 2nd - August 8 exclusively at http://www.thesmokies.tv/ with Silver, Gold and Platinum contribution packages available.
This exclusive "closed-door" event features Llama Llama Red Pajama, a 20 minute children's musical adapted from the wildly popular children’s book and hosts LIVE performances by Baby Llama, Mama Llama, the Penguin Players and an exclusive guest performance by the legendary Dolly Parton.
Also in both the Gold and the Platinum packages Dolly is featured reading her new children's book "I Am a Rainbow" to a special group of VIP children or as Dolly called them VIK (Very Important Kids) and singing the song she wrote of the same name along with the children and the Penguin Players.
All contribution proceeds from the online broadcast benefit Dolly's Imagination Library national program as well as individual affiliates where contributions are made. Three great packages are available from just $5 and such a small contribution goes a long way to help our children! PLUS it is tax deductible.
"We are extremely excited to bring this broadcast event to Dolly's Imagination Library family and we are sure that parents and children alike will enjoy these performances and at the same time, this will be a direct benefit to this wonderful program and all local affiliates that make this possible!"...Jacob Timmons, President, S.D. Professionals, LLC.
The Smokies.tv makes entertainment available via the internet with easy, on-demand viewing.
The event is only available on http://thesmokies.tv/ and is one not to miss!
Log on today to http://thesmokies.tv and read all about the three fantastic packages offered. Children and adults alike will marvel at this special event aimed at family values that Dolly has brought to the world via The Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton in Llama Llama Red Pajama the Musical

2009-07-24T00:31:00.005-04:00

Watch on YouTube

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TheSmokies.TV proves big hit for S.D. Professionals, LLC

2009-05-12T06:15:00.005-04:00

Weeks of preparation paid off as S.D. Professionals, LLC and their new media “TheSmokies.TV” revealed their worldwide broadcast of Dolly Parton’s 24th Annual Parade in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Stats reveal tens of thousands of viewers logging on from 60+ countries around the globe, all of which are potential new visitors to this area which is dependent upon tourism. “We truly strive to always think outside of the box. Not only did we bring the Smokies to the world during Dolly’s Parade but we actually streamed and recording for the first time ever with a RED ONE 4K Camera” said Jacob Timmons of S.D. Professionals, LLC For those who may have experience issues logging on during the heavy traffic period, TheSmokies.TV is now broadcasting an encore performance on TheSmokies.TV. TheSmokies.TV is an online broadcasting division of S.D. Professionals, LLC which covers live events and entertainment within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains and immediate surrounding areas. For more information, contact Jacob Timmons at 865-774-9023.

Dolly Parton Parade Video

2009-05-09T18:59:00.000-04:00

more to come.....

24th Annual Dolly Parton Parade goes worldwide!

2009-05-02T18:24:00.003-04:00

The Dolly Parton Parade this Friday will be broadcast live via TheSmokies.TV, the new web media from S. D. Professionals. The live show hosted by radio personality, Tammy Kelly and Kate Phillips starts at 6pm eastern and can be viewed for free on http://www.thesmokies.tv/.

The new media is sure to create major interest with visitors “clicking on” to the net to watch the parade along with a live interview with The Smokies Ambassador, Dolly Parton. Some high profile entertainers will also be featured throughout the broadcast.

“The live broadcast opens up an entirely new audience with millions of potential viewers and is breaking new ground in reaching the ever increasing internet savvy public, not only locally but worldwide” said Jacob Timmons of S. D. Professionals. “We feel it is the perfect opportunity to do our part to stimulate tourism in the Great Smoky Mountains because millions of potential viewers will convert into millions of potential new visitors to the area. “

TheSmokes.TV is a new media web broadcasting channel within S.D. Professionals, LLC that features events and entertainment exclusively within the Great Smoky Mountain area, covering Concerts, Craft Fairs, Rod Runs, Parades, Special Functions & Events, Sports, Festivals and more. Interested parties for either an event promotion or becoming a sponsor can contact Jacob Timmons on 865-774-9023.

TheSmokies.TV set to broadcast 24th Annual Dolly Parade LIVE to the world!

2009-04-28T16:50:00.004-04:00

TheSmokies.TV will be broadcasting the 24th Annual Dolly Parton Parade live on http://www.thesmokies.tv/ on Friday, May 8th, 2009 at 6pm Eastern. Tune in early for pre-show fun and live interview with Dolly Parton.

"The Book Lady" video trailer about Dolly Parton

2008-12-26T12:16:00.004-05:00

S.D. Professionals, LLC rolls out the all new Book Order V2 for affiliates across the world.

2008-11-10T09:04:00.004-05:00

For nearly 18 months, the multimedia company has been developing an new and improved version of the book order system used by affiliates across the world to input their children’s data which ensures that each child enrolled receives a book from Dolly’s Imagination Library.
Many more features are already developed and in line to roll out over the coming weeks all of which are made to enhance the program and allow for faster more accurate data entry which means more children can be enrolled into the system in a shorter period of time.

Are you interested in signing up your child or grandchild? Visit www.imaginationlibrary.com to get started today.

DOLLY PARTON PAYS TRIBUTE TO PORTER WAGONER AND DON WARDEN

2008-04-13T10:11:00.004-04:00

Sevier County superstar Dolly Parton took some personal time off from her busy press schedule Saturday to celebrate the life and music of former television partner and mentor, Porter Wagoner. In her own Celebrity Theater, the singer spent an emotional and poignant afternoon singing the songs and sharing the stories of the time she and Porter spent together and the impact the legend had on all who surrounded him. Parton also took the opportunity to surprise manager, and original Wagon Master, Don Warden with an induction into the Missouri based Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. The Dollywood Theater was transformed with familiar sets from the long-running country music show and Dolly’s band, The Backwoods Boys, dressed in the signature costumes from the era. Dolly, herself, wore a Porter-inspired outfit to set the mood for the afternoon.

“This won’t be a sad time,” she assured the crowd. “This will be a happy time!” The private event was attended by Wagoner’s children and grand children and many of the Grand Ole Opry stars who had performed with him during his long and successful career. “The Porter Wagoner Show” debuted on syndicated television in 1960 and the flashy country star brought new talent Dolly Parton aboard in 1967. Parton credits his support and the popularity of their duets together, as the foundation of her own success.
During the emotional memorial, Wagon Master steel guitar player Don Warden was surprised by Parton with a tribute of his own. Dressed in the original costume he wore on the famed show, Warden was gifted with a sculpture from Parton who described him as her “Angel on Earth” and told of his induction into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. When Dolly left the Porter Wagoner Show, Warden went with her as manager and has remained with her as an adviser through the years. This very special tribute marked the first time the two had performed together in 34 years.

Eyes glistening with tears, Parton closed the memorial with the original version of her 1974 musical farewell to their partnership, “I Will Always Love You”. “Not a dry eye in the house,” says Sevierville media artist Jacob Timmons, who designed and manages Parton’s web empire. “The whole first row of the theater was Porter’s family, the second row was legends from the Grand Ole Opry. It was a powerful and moving expression of love”. Porter Wagoner died on October 28, 2007, in Nashville Tennessee. His career spanned seven decades.
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Dolly Parton delights fansaround the world in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Parade

2008-04-13T09:17:00.003-04:00

As thunder storms and funnel clouds ripped through East Tennessee yesterday, Pigeon Forge had their own special angel keeping skies sunny and dry! This area's favorite daughter, Dolly Parton, welcomed Spring with her annual parade down the city's main street, and even the weather seemed to be under her spell.From the Dollywood Foundation offices to Wears Valley Road, eager fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Backwoods Barbie and, as usual, she didn't disappoint! Signature smile (and wig!) glowing, looking full of life and bursting with happiness, Dolly waved and chatted with the crowd from atop her new custom built float.Sharing time with her home town fans before jetting off to a year-long World Tour, Dolly has had a busy Spring already; appearing as a mentor on Fox Television's popular hit, American Idol and promoting her latest album. Not likely a few rain drops would dampen her enthusiasm or that of the crowds cheering her on.The yearly tradition celebrates the official Grand Opening weekend of the star's Dollywood Theme Park and has become an eagerly awaited kick-off for summer in the Smokey Mountains.

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S.D. Professionals, LLC Makes TV Debut On American Idol

2008-04-01T11:50:00.003-04:00

S. D. Professionals, LLC owner Jacob Timmons isn’t appearing as a contestant on American Idol this week but, with the help of super star Dolly Parton, his work will be seen on the popular talent showcase just the same. Timmons, owner of the Sevierville based media design company, was contacted by representatives from American Idol to create the visual animation for Parton’s appearance on episodes airing this week. “It isn’t every day you see American Idol on caller ID!” Timmons laughed.On Tuesday night, Sevier county’s hometown celebrity is sharing her wisdom and years of performance experience with the Idol finalists celebrating her music. Parton will be performing her new hit “Jesus and Gravity” live during the elimination phase of the show Wednesday evening. No coincidence that the Fox network staff looked to Timmons for artistic visual interpretation when planning Dolly’s Idol debut. S. D. Professionals, LLC designed and maintains Parton’s new web site, http://www.dollyparton.com/ as well as her Imagination Library web site and book order system, DollysImaginationLibrary.com. The artist also recently produced the video content for Parton’s new 2008 Backwoods Barbie World Tour which kicks off this month. Timmons’ work opens the famous show tonight and he looks forward to seeing “S. D. Professionals, LLC” roll by on the credits.“We are thrilled to be part of the evening”, says Timmons, “and feel Dolly will have a little bit of Sevierville there with her”! Local residents can enjoy the same affordable services as the successful Fox network by contacting S. D. Professionals, LLC at http://www.sdwebpros.com/ or by calling 865-774-9023.

Dolly Parton will mentor American Idol Contestants Season 7

2008-03-14T17:08:00.003-04:00

Dolly Parton announces this week that she will in fact be a star mentor for this year's Season 7 contestants.
Check out American Idol for more information and keep checking out Dolly Parton's website for new stuff!
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Injured Dolly Parton Postpones13-Show Tour

2008-02-11T22:32:00.000-05:00

Associated Press Reports:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A back problem has forced Dolly Parton to postpone a concert tour she planned in support of her new CD. Parton was scheduled to kick off a 13-show tour Feb. 28 in Minneapolis, two days after the release of "Backwoods Barbie," publicist Marcee Rondan said Monday.
Doctors advised Parton to take up to eight weeks off to recover from the unspecified problem.
Rondan said she had no information on the nature of Parton's back condition.
"I know I have been breaking my neck and bending over backwards trying to get my new `Backwoods Barbie' CD and world tour together, but I didn't mean to hurt myself doing it," Parton, 62, said in a statement.
She said doctors told her she will be "good as new in a few weeks, and I can't wait to get back out there."
The tour will be rescheduled for late April through May. Tickets will be honored for the new dates.
On the Net:
Dolly Parton: http://www.dollyparton.com/

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United Way of Cass-Clay raised more than $4.4 million dollars

2008-01-19T11:42:00.000-05:00

United Way of Cass-Clay raised more than $4.4 million dollars in 2007, surpassing the organization’s goal by $50,000, organizers announced Friday.
Doug Hamilton, the 2007 campaign chair, announced the 2007 campaign’s 7 percent increase compared to funds raised in 2006 during a news conference.
Hamilton also highlighted some of the organization’s key moments in 2007, including:
- More than 1,800 volunteers from 92 businesses helped 450 seniors during the organization’s 16th annual “Day of Caring,” making the 2007 event the organization’s biggest to date, Hamilton said.
- Businesses, organizations and individuals donated more than $72,500 worth of supplies during the School Supply Drive, which provided 3,200 children with backpacks and school supplies at the start of school.
- United Way distributed an average of 7,722 books a month to children in Cass and Clay counties through Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth until their fifth birthday.
More than 1,600 individual donors and 516 organizations helped raise funds during the 2007 campaign, which will be allocated to 57 programs, Hamilton said.
He added that the continued success of the fundraising campaign demonstrates how well local residents take care of others.
“United Way’s success illustrates that we live in a very generous community,” Hamilton said.

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Dolly's Imagination Library program get's praise with GoLaurens.com

2008-01-14T09:32:00.000-05:00

Most of us are from the generation that was taught that you work for everything you have, you don’t ask anyone for anything, you say please and thank you, and you don’t believe everything you hear or read.Well, you can believe this. You can get something for nothing and here’s how. For those of us with children, the United Way and Laurens County School Districts 55 and 56 began offering a program to assist pre-school aged children with reading levels to promote school readiness.This program, called the Imagination Library, is available to any child age under age five in Laurens County. By enrolling, children receive a book a month delivered to their homes from the Imagination Library program. Ideally, a child enrolling in Imagination Library at birth would start school at age five with a library of 60 books of his very own. The books each child receives are hardback, age appropriate books that are pre-approved by a national board of educators. Have you priced hardback children’s books lately? They are expensive! United Way and the two School Districts pick up this tab for any child living in this community at an average price of $35 per year per child. Imagination Library was the brainchild of country music legend, Dolly Parton. Because Parton was from a very impoverished home, she shares that her mother used to read the same book over and over to her. She says she remembers as a child thinking that if she grew up to become wealthy, she would make sure that children of all ages had the books they needed to succeed. Five years ago, in 2002, United Way and the School Districts began offering this program to the children of this community. Like Dolly, we share the same dream for Laurens County’s children. We want to make sure that all children arrive to school prepared to learn and prepared to read.Since we began the program, over 3,500 children have benefited from Imagination Library and over 65,000 books have been delivered to our children! We believe it’s an investment in our children and an investment in this community’s future.If you have children and you have not enrolled them in our Imagination Library program, what are you waiting for? Find out more by checking this program out on our website at www.uwlc-online.orgWe’d like nothing better than for every child in our community to have that library in their homes. And, the best news is that this program is FREE. Now that’s something for nothing!
Posted by GoLaurens.com Guest Blogger at 8:11 PM

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Cape Breton flavour added to documentary about Parton’s literacy program

2008-01-07T13:59:00.000-05:00

TROY — A documentary detailing a country music legend’s campaign for children’s literacy will feature some Cape Breton flavour.The Book Lady, chronicling Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation and her Imagination Library program in both the United States and Canada, shot some footage in Cape Breton this week, conducting interviews with renowned fiddler Natalie MacMaster and a Waycobah-area family which has been involved in the program.The one-hour documentary is being produced by Sydney native Brad Horvath for Halifax-based Emotion Pictures, in association with Horvath’s own company, Amygdala Pictures.“The documentary is two-fold,” said Horvath, who serves as producer on the project. “(It) will show another side of Dolly and shed light on the importance of reading to preschool children. We hope it will also inspire people to get involved in this initiative.”Imagination Library is a program that mails free, age-appropriate books each month to preschool children.The Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated singer, songwriter and actress has given millions of books to American children since initially setting up Imagination Library in 1996 to aid children in her home state of Tennessee. In 2007, she partnered with Canadian charitable organization, Invest in Kids, and brought the campaign to several Canadian communities, including two in Nova Scotia — Dartmouth and Waycobah.Several months ago, Horvath and Halifax-based director Natasha Ryan travelled with a small crew to meet Parton in Tennessee and have since interviewed a number of prominent Canadians and Americans for the documentary including Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, country music singer Keith Urban, actress and singer Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney Channel hit series Hannah Montana, figure skating champion Kurt Browning and children’s author Robert Munsch.Horvath said he was thrilled to include a piece of home in the documentary and MacMaster — an admirer of Parton’s and a mother of two young children who is committed to the literacy cause — was a natural fit for the documentary.“Natalie was lovely. We had a great time with her,” he said, noting after doing an interview with the fiddler they taped MacMaster’s young nephew reading a book to her.After completing filming with MacMaster in her home community of Troy, the documentarians moved on to the Waycobah First Nation where they interviewed a mother who has been receiving books for her children through the program as well as local health centre staff who help administer the program in the community.Halifax-based filmmaker Thom Fitzgerald serves as executive producer on The Book Lady, which has been pre-sold to CBC-TV for national broadcast. Horvath noted other broadcasters have also expressed interest in the documentary.
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Dolly Parton brings focus of world's media to Rotherham

2008-01-03T08:55:00.000-05:00

Rotherham was recently the focus of the world’s media when it hosted the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library presented by Dolly Parton in person. The venue was the Magna Science and Education Centre and dignitaries, officials and children from across the region were invited to share in the event. It was a fantastic occasion and rather surreal with the Leader of the Council and Dolly Parton sharing a stage and where Dolly sang a couple of her favourite songs to a very impressed audience.But the real surprise was that the scheme that Dolly Parton had launched and funded in her home county of Servier in Tennessee over 10 years ago was now being offered to the young children of Rotherham.Dolly Parton began the Imagination Library in her home county of Servier in Tennessee over 10 years ago to try to address the poor literacy skills of the children and to help children develop the same love of books that had inspired Dolly when she was young.Why Rotherham? Rotherham is very similar to a lot of towns where traditional industries have disappeared and it is now evident that the population does not have the literacy skills necessary to obtain the jobs available. On current analysis about 40% of the adult population in Rotherham have some difficulty with literacy skills. This low literacy level of the adults impacts on the help that a parent can give their child either by reading with them, using the local library, or aspiring for and with the child.Rotherham is launching the Imagination Library to help create a bigger impact on children’s early reading skills and to connect with those families who lack the confidence and skills to use local services such as libraries. Many families have not been introduced to the possibilities that libraries can help them with such as borrowing books, using computers, help with homework or studying for their own personal interest.In Rotherham, like many other towns, the speaking and listening skills of children starting in Foundation stages of early education are low and much earlier interventions are required to improve this. Imagination Library complements other schemes such as Book Start and Book Time ,reaching out to children from birth. and will give an additional platform from which to reach out to the families who are not accessing other early education experiences and who are not aware of how important their role is in encouraging speaking, listening and reading with very small children well before they start school.How does the scheme work? All children resident in Rotherham aged between 0 – 5 years old can register for the Imagination Library. A leaflet with a registration form is available from a variety of settings including the hospital, registrar’s office, children’s centres, schools, libraries and doctors surgeries. The books are addressed to the child and are delivered to their home once a month about 8 – 10 weeks after registering for the scheme. Traditional stories and good quality story books, appropriate to their age, are chosen by a panel of literacy experts and reviewed annually. The funding comes from communities, charities, grants and individuals who sponsor a child or children. The cost per child is the equivalent of 50 pence per week for the 5 years if the child is registered at birth making a total of about £125 per child for the 60 books that make up the Imagination Library.How will another reading scheme make any more of an impact than what is already being funded and provided for families and children? It is difficult to answer that question at this time. What is evident is that for the first time the book will go directly to the child at their family home and because the parents have to enrol and register the child they will be engaged in reading with their child from the start of the Imagination library membership.Rotherham is monitoring and evaluating the impact of the scheme by working with some families to evidence any progress they make in reading with their child , increasing their participation with libraries and any changes to their own reading habits.Activities are already being extended that link to the books being delivered so that different age groups of children can be invited with their families to “Baby Book Clubs” that could run in local libraries or other local community settings. This will build on the many and varied activities that already take place. Story Sacks can be created, again linked to particular books that will have been sent to the children, and parents can come along and join other families in using puppets to retell stories and learn about the language of books. Schools will know which children have already registered and can prepare first steps into school around this knowledge encouraging other families to join the scheme.The Skills for Life agenda will be considered with awareness training taking place for staff across all organisations that support and serve families with young children. Additional opportunities for parents who may wish to improve their own reading skills will have a raised profile and can provide a further improvement to the skills of our community.It is not yet clear what, if any, additional work there will be but we do know that a different approach is necessary. By using the information that connects and gives a link to every family who is registered the ideas are endless. In addition to membership of the Imagination Library, the registration forms will offer membership of their local library and this could also help in informing families when they are eligible for their Book Start packs and how to collect them. We do know that when parents are involved in their children’s learning the impact is huge and children make great strides, whilst their parents often develop their own love of learning and reading. Adults become a more positive role model and, together, the family starts to use more local services and are able to make better choices for themselves.Everyone who is concerned about the literacy skills of our population is constantly searching for new ways to engage adults and children and improve their reading and involvement in learning to help provide a vibrant and successful community.Dolly Parton has a unique, well tried and tested opportunity and our children deserve everything we can do to help them become lifelong readers.
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Crossville Chronicle reports Imagination Library seeks local support

2007-12-28T09:12:00.000-05:00

Ever heard of a good problem? The folks with the Imagination Library in Cumberland County have.The program began in the county in May 2005. In June 2005, the program was able to send out 123 books to children eligible for the program. In December 2007, 1,426 books were mailed, reaching 56 percent of children eligible in Cumberland County. Since the program came into the community, the Imagination Library has mailed 32,959 books to children registered with the program.According to Julie Shanks of the Imagination Library, that's a larger portion than was anticipated at this point. She said she thought enrollment would have been around 40 percent.That's why Shanks says the Imagination Library needs the support of anyone willing in the community in order for the program to continue reaching children at the same level. Thus far, the amount of children reached monthly has only increased since the program came into Cumberland County.The Imagination Library is available to children from birth to age 5 at no cost to the family. Each book is hardcover and is selected by a panel to suit the child's stage of development.Reaching children in 47 states, with the recent addition of Canada and Great Britain, the Imagination Library has given away 4.5 million books and has had 420,000 children enrolled in the program.The Imagination Library first came about through Dolly Parton. Parton became motivated by the fact that, despite her father being the smartest man she said she ever knew, he was illiterate. Parton wondered about her father's potential had he been able to read.Once Parton became successful, she grew interested in making a difference in children's lives in her hometown of Sevierville, no matter their family's income. In 1996, she established the Imagination Library for the children of Sevier County. There, the Dollywood Foundation funds the program at 100 percent. Cumberland County, however, counts on 50 percent of its support coming from local donors.

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Logo Television's Jake...meets Dolly in the UK!

2007-12-20T08:07:00.001-05:00

"Islands in the stream, that is what they are..." Jake and Dolly get close! Photo courtesy of Dave King/Eyeworks.tv.
Sometimes it seems like all the good TV comes from England. Doctor Who, Ab Fab, Graham Norton... And the Brits seem to crank out endless cool music/rock documentaries, too. On December 26th, folks in the UK get a belated Xmas gift when T4 airs “When Jake Met Dolly” in which “the excitable Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears fulfills a lifelong ambition by meeting his heroine Dolly Parton, the legendary Queen of Country!” Ummm... When do we get to see this Stateside, eh?
In the special, evidently Jake and Dolly hang out in her bedroom, they discuss her life and career and take “an eye-popping winter wonderland walk through her camp-as-Christmas travelling wardrobe.” Not fair! I wanna see...
Evidently Dolly was in England promoting her new tour (her new album Backwoods Barbie is due in February) and launching the UK arm of her children’s charity project, “Imagination Library.” Attagirl, Dora Lee!
Here’s a clip of Jake and Dolly, and there's another after the jump. They talk about gayness and boobs! Fine and dandy...

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League of Extraordinary Teens in Cleveland, Tennessee

2007-12-18T08:09:00.000-05:00

Bradley County now has four members of the League of Extraordinary Teens, a program of the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation in accordance with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
All four League members are students at Walker Valley High School, and are members of that school's Beta Club. They include 10th graders Melani Owens, Bethany Thomason and Joshua Eckelberry, and 12th grader Dani Armstrong.
Armstrong was the first to complete her requirements for League inclusion, and Owens, Thomason and Eckelberry soon followed. Each took on the task of meeting League requirements as a Beta Club project.
A program of the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, the League of Extraordinary Teens is a unique and hands-on statewide initiative seeking to engage Tennesseans ages 13 to 19 in the financial and logistical support of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. League membership requires teens to personally register a minimum of 10 children and raise a minimum of $135 to cover the cost of enrolling those children in their county's Imagination Library for a full year.
In all, these four students raised over $900 and signed up well over the minimum requirement.
“I was so proud to see them take on this project and run with it,” said WVHS Beta Club sponsor Ashley Fox. “It is such a good program to get these books into the hands of pre-school children, and I know that these students feel the same.”
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library mails a new, age-appropriate, hardcover book every month to children from birth to the time they turn five, at no cost to the family. United Way of Bradley County administers the program locally.
Beta Club members at Walker Valley High School, Bradley Central High School and Cleveland High School worked earlier this year on a project where they were helping sign up children for the program at a home football game. Several children were signed up during that project, and money was also raised then for the program.
“It is wonderful to see these students getting involved in helping us not only sign up children for the Imagination Library and raise funds to help us locally but also to be good spokespersons for the program,” said United Way of Bradley County President and CEO Brenda Abel. “We appreciate Melanie, Brittany, Joshua and Dani, and the other Beta Club members in our community, who have been involved.”
Currently, 208 teenagers representing 36 counties have already been inducted and countless others are creatively working toward membership in the League of Extraordinary Teens. These teen-agers have personally registered more than 2,290 children and personally raised more than $28,645 for their counties’ Imagination Library program. Additionally, nine counties have received donations from local Beta Clubs totaling more than $3,835.
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Barnes & Noble reach out to help support Dolly's Imagination Library

2007-12-15T07:44:00.000-05:00

Collaboration = Happy Holidays for everyone! December 14, 2007 07:56 AM

SELCO:
Now that my husband and I have wireless in our house, we have the nasty habit of bringing our laptops into bed with us at night and catching up on all of the daily news, celebrity gossip, and posting activity to our facebook and MySpace pages. Last night, I was catching up on Minnesota news, and I read a snippet in the St. Cloud Times about the United Way partnering with a local Barnes and Noble for a day--when items were purchased at Barnes and Noble while using a special voucher, 10-25% of the purchase price went to the Imagination Library project. While these two organizations are on the larger scale of things, the collaboration between the two during the holidays can be inspirational for every organization, including libraries.
This holiday season, try to collaborate as much as possible with local businesses/organizations to make a positive impact in your community. Partner with the local food bank in your area and make your location a collection hub. Volunteer for an evening at a local shelter. If you are in the Rochester area, get together with other local organizations to bake cookies for the Gift of Life Transplant House and the Ronald McDonald House or take a group field trip the Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital (located within St. Mary's) and read to the little ones who can't make it to the regular story hours at the library. All of the little things count. I have found that every library staff person I have encountered is incredibly passionate about his/her job and is completely devoted to serving the needs of library patrons. This holiday season, let's open our hearts and serve the needs of our entire community. Happy Holidays!

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