Dayton library to celebrate Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

DAYTON — On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the Rhea County Imagination Library will host a celebration at the Clyde W. Roddy Library in Dayton, bringing together preschool children and literacy enthusiasts for a morning of fun, learning, and community spirit.

The Rhea chairperson, Linda Abel, announced that the event will be from 9 to 11 a.m. and is held in honor of the library’s mission to promote early childhood reading. It will feature a variety of activities and special appearances including The Book Bus, promising to be a memorable event for all attendees.

“Join us for the Library’s Pre-School Story Hour, a fantastic weekly program that focuses on Early Literacy,” library director Brittany West said. “We have partnered with the Imagination Library to provide books to the children in our community, encouraging a love for reading. We encourage all early readers to join us and register for the Imagination Library!”

Adding to the excitement of the day will be the appearance of Booker the Owl, the Imagination Library’s beloved mascot and an instant hit among the children. Booker’s presence underscores the library’s commitment to making reading fun and accessible for children in the community.

The celebration will also feature a craft station where children can create their own bookmarks and book-related artwork, Preschool Story Hour featuring Holly Reed who will read aloud from favorite children’s books, and refreshments provided by Roddy Library. Parents and guardians will receive information on how to sign up their children for the Imagination Library, ensuring that every child in Rhea County has access to free books from birth to age five.

The Rhea County Imagination Library in coordination with Rhea United Way is part of Dolly Parton’s national initiative and has been a cornerstone of this community’s efforts to promote literacy for the past 18 years. By providing free books to children, the program aims to instill a lifelong love of reading and learning.

In planning the event, Linda Abel exclaims: “We look forward to seeing families come out to enjoy the Storybook Trail and interact with Booker the Owl. This event highlights the importance of literacy and the joy that books can bring to children’s lives through the Imagination Library.”

For more information about this event or to donate to Rhea Imagination Library, visit Facebook: Imagination Library of Rhea County or call 423-775-5633. For more information on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com.