Three speakers representing a local Rotary club, United Way Australia, and The Dollywood Foundation present a practical overview of how Rotarians, their clubs, and their networks have been instrumental in the launch of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Australia. Learn how they’ve collaborated to make the Imagination Library a reality in their community, working to inspire a love for reading and learning in children from an early age.

1. 2014 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Support Early Literacy by
Working with the Dolly
Parton Imagination Library

2. • DG Garry Browne, District 9675 – moderator
• Christy Crouse, Dolly Parton’s Imagination
Library Regional Director - Panelist
• PDG Juliet Riseley, District 9810 – Panelist
• Jenny Riley, Head of Community Impact at
United Way Australia - Panelist
Presenters

3. • Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
overview
• Imaginational Library Australia:
Dollywood Foundation, Rotary, and
United Way partnership
• Partnership in Action: program expansion
and replication in your local community
• Questions
Agenda

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5. Christy Crouse | Dolly Parton’s Imagination
Library: Promoting Social Change One Book at a
Time
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6. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | History
• Developed in 1995 by
Dolly for her hometown of
Sevier County, Tennessee,
USA
• Inspires a love of reading
• Guarantees all children
will have quality books in
the home
• A program about
inspiration and
imagination
Tribute to her
father
A way to give
back to her
hometown of
Sevier
County, TN
Imagination
Library

7. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Operations
• DWF partnerships promote literacy and serve children
• Children receive a free monthly book from birth to age 5
• Books are delivered by postal mail, personally addressed to
children
• Books are age appropriate and customized for the program

8. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Research Driven
• Reading aloud to
children has long lasting
positive impacts
• Correlation between
reading to preschoolers
and language
development, high school
readiness, family
bonding, and community
bonding

9. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Current Stats
• Over 56 million books
have been mailed since
1996
• 1,400 Imagination
Library programs
operate in four countries
• 720,000 children receive
an Imagination Library
book each month

10. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Partnership Support
Rotary and United Way
Support is Vital
Over 300 Rotary clubs and
United Way agencies
chamption the Imagination
Library in four countires
Partners’ Primary Support:
• Financial
• Participant Database
• Early Education Advocacy
and Strategy
• Registration

11. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
“If books make kids feel special then kids will feel the
books are special” – Dolly Parton

12. Juliet Riseley | Imagination Library Australia: a
partnership between Rotary, United Way, and
The Dollywood Foundation
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13. Partnership Formation
“‘Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on
till you come to the end: then stop’"

14. Partnership Precedent
"Every adventure requires a first step. Trite but true, even
here"

15. Greater Impact through Partnership
“‘I could tell you my adventures — beginning from this
morning,' said Alice a little timidly: 'but it's no use going
back to yesterday, because I was a different person then’"

16. Components for Successful Partnership Expansion
“Alice – ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go
from here?’
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’
said the Cat.”

17. Program Impact
Measureable and proven program impact

18. Jenny Riley | Imagination Library Australia:
Impact and Expansion
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19. Imagination Library Australia | Launch
Leading the way to a more literate and successful Australia
July 2014 – June 2014
3 clubs
4 communities
12 months
220 children
2000 books

20. Imagination Library Australia | 5 Year Goal
July 2014 – June 2019
30 clubs
40 communities
5 years
20,000 children
100,000 books

21. Imagination Library Australia | Pioneers
Rotary District 9810
• Rotary Club of Noble Park (July 2013) – 100 children, 784
books
• Rotary Club of Healesville (Dec 2013) – 21 children, 38
books
Rotary District 9670
• Rotary Club of Corrimal (Feb 2014) – 67 children, 107
books

22. Imagination Library Australia | Club support
• Advocacy: sign up days, reading mornings
• Publicity: media attention about the program and
importance of books and reading to young children
• Fund raising: Lord Mayor’s Trust $5k in Noble Park
• Partnerships: connected local partners (ie: Paint the
Gong REaD)
• Mobilisation: Mobilised community, business, and local
government around early education and literacy in
Australia

23. Imagination Library Australia | Implementation
• Clubs “sign up” to run a local Imagination Library
• Raise 3 months worth of funds to cover books (ie: $1,800)
• Print sign up forms for participants to register for the
program
• Sign up children and parents!

24. Imagination Library Australia | Implementation, continued
United Way Australia/The Dollywood Foundation’s roles
• Information Packs (pick one up today!)
• Getting Started Packs
• Fundraising Pack
• Sign up Forms
• Promotional material
• Book Ordering Training
• Access to a vast network across Australia: Facebook,
phone hook up, annual meetings
• Ongoing support from a dedicated Dolly Parton
Imagination Library Coordinator

25. Expanding and replicating the Imagination Library program
How can you help?
Take up the challenge to CHAMPION an Imagination
Library in your community:
• Lead the way to literacy
• Use your local knowledge and networks
• Get people involved in the program
• Improve your community

26. Questions?
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27. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Booth in the
Billabong House of Friendship Booth 116
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