Belfast is to have a pilot for the popular Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides a free new book each month for children up to five years old.
At Belfast City Council ’s recent meeting of its People and Communities Committee, elected representatives agreed a motion by SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite to investigate and trial the programme, which was opened in the UK in 2007.
The council motion states: “Belfast City Council acknowledges that the majority of physical brain development occurs in the first three years of life, when children form over one million new neural connections per second.
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“It recognises the benefits of reading, and reading aloud, to young children which can promote the development of basic literacy and vocabulary skills, establish strong interpersonal relationships between children and parents/guardians, as well as improving longer term educational, health, social and economic outcomes.”
It adds the council “is concerned about the rising cost of living which will limit the ability of families to pay for essential educational resources like books for young children”.
The motion commits “to investigate and establish a pilot of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in the city to provide a new book each month for children aged 0-5, working with any interested partners to secure the success and sustainable funding of the scheme”.
In the programme enrolled children from birth to age five each month receive a high quality, age-appropriate book in the post, free of charge. The Imagination Library works with local partners or affiliates to register children and contribute to the costs.
The Imagination Library website states: “Each month, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a high quality, age appropriate book to all registered children, addressed to them, at no cost to the child’s family.
“The books are carefully selected, and full of variety. They include traditional stories and rhymes, books by beloved authors and illustrators, non-fiction content, and newly published titles.”
Councillor Séamas de Faoite told the council committee: “I appreciate we are moving into very difficult financial times for the council and for the public sector in general, though I continue to oppose the ideology of austerity.
“This is an investment at a small level, which can have a huge impact on the early development of a child’s life, and produce far better outcomes in their adulthood. There is a wealth of research behind that statement, it is not just hazarding a guess.”
He suggested a pilot for around one hundred children, or more, if other partners could be affiliated, bodies such as the Public Health Agency and the Education Authority.
The Imagination Library website states: “Local affiliates are responsible for enrolling children who live within the geographical area they offer the programme in. They promote their local programmes online and at events.
“While the Imagination Library negotiates wholesale pricing for the books, local affiliates and partners are responsible for securing funds to cover that cost. Books are 100 percent free to enrolled children because their local affiliate has secured funds to cover the cost of the books and the postage and packing fees.”
It adds: “The Imagination Library provides the infrastructure of the core programme including managing the secure central database for the Book Order System and coordinating book selections and wholesale purchasing. It also incurs the cost of the programme’s administrative expenses and coordinates the monthly mailings.”
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