By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Maria Simon had lunch with Dolly Parton Tuesday.
Simon, Wood County District Public Library’s children’s services librarian, attended the luncheon hosted by First Lady Fran DeWine at the Ohio State Union’s Archie Griffin Ballroom with hundreds of other literacy advocates to celebrate the success of Parton’s Imagination Library.
The Imagination Library sends out a book monthly to any child from birth to 5, who has been enrolled. Parton started the project as a way to honor her father, who never learned to read. Launched in 2019, the library distributes more than 327,000 books.
Simon said that DeWine discovered the project through her own grandchildren. “She saw first-hand how much her family appreciated receiving those books.” So she introduced the project to Ohio.
The Parton’s library serves all children regardless of family income. “It’s really for everyone,” Simon said. “So she’ s having such a wide impact. “
Wood County began offering the service in spring, 2020. Since then it has signed up 3586 young readers, more than 50 percent of children eligible, according to the United Way of Greater Toledo, which serves as the fiscal agent.
Statewide about 45 percent of eligible children are receiving books. Tuesday luncheon was intended to boost those numbers by raising awareness.
[RELATED: Library joins Dolly Parton’s effort to spread the word about reading to pre-schoolers]
Simon said the effort to get families enrolled is never ending. Each child in the family should sign up because the books change every year, so the younger kids will get different books than their siblings received at the same age.
For more information and to sign up visit:
www.unitedwaytoledo.org/woodcounty and ohioimaginationlibrary.org.
Parton “spoke so lovingly about families and how important families are in our society,” Simon said.
“She just sparkled,” she said. “All eyes were on her.”
Yet, “she was so authentic and funny. She just puts everyone at ease.”
Parton’s own book “Coat of Many Colors,” based on her hit song, is one of the books now being distributed to the older readers. The book, which is in English and Spanish, is illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes.
Parton presented DeWine with a commemorative copy of the book, and DeWine presented the singer-songwriter with a quilt created by children from around the state, including Wood County.
Simon said she has fond memories of young patrons working on the quilt. They brainstormed about what images could represent the county and drew the designs that were turned into quilt squares.
Parton, accompanying herself on guitar, performed the song for the audience.
“She made everybody laugh and feel good about what we’re doing,” Simon said. “She’s just through and through such an inspiration. Somebody you just wanted to keep listening to. … She’s such of model of generosity.”
