Give the Gift of Literacy

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library GTR Board Members 2022

Janet Engle 

Main Coordinator 

 Nancy Grote, Ph.D. 

Outgoing Main Coordinator  

Bonnie Newhouse 

Treasurer 

Chair, Finance Committee  

Linda Paranick Secretary 

 Ruth Jones 

Corresponding Secretary  

Sophie Legault-Bradley, MPA 

Data Clerk, Grand Traverse County

 Chair, Registration Committee  

Dawn Iott

 Data Clerk, Kalkaska County

  Hollie Anderson

 Leelanau County Liaison 

 David Rorabacher, Ph.D. 

Outgoing Data Clerk, Grand Traverse 

 Elizabeth Moore, Ph.D. 

Chair, Fundraising 

Committee

  Sally Thompson 

Chair, Communications Committee 

 Jennifer Abel 

Chair, Organization Committee Read to Me Liaison  

Julie Egelus  

Sharon Glenn 

 Becky Mang

  Anne Porter 

 Since its start in 2016 DPIL GTR has served over 2545 children. From then until now, we have expanded program availability from children living in a single Interlochen zip code to a geographic area that spans seven zip codes (49637, 49643, 49684, 49685, 49686, 49696 ) across metro areas of Grand Traverse County and 49649 in Kingsley. In April 2021, the program was opened to all children in Kalkaska County (made possible by a directed donation) and to all children in Leelanau County (through the early childhood millage). Despite these advances there are still key areas of Grand Traverse County where children do not have access to the Imagination Library.  

To promote emergent literacy and a love of reading by getting books into the homes and hands of young children at no cost to the parents. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – Grand Traverse Region (DPIL GTR) is the local affiliate of an award-winning book gifting program that supports children’s literacy development from birth to age 5. The program’s mission is to foster a love of reading and to ensure that every child, regardless of family income, can benefit from a home library of high quality, age-appropriate books. DPIL mails books to children each month until their fifth birthday, at no cost to parents. DPIL GTR registers eligible children in our region and raises the funds necessary to purchase and mail the books. Our affiliate is run by a dedicated team of volunteers, including many educators, who are passionate about early literacy. Our work is grounded in research showing that participation in the Imagination Library program has significant positive effects on children’s reading attitudes, early literacy and kindergarten readiness, helping to establish a solid foundation for future success in school and beyond. 

Please visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/ to see if your address is eligible for the book program.    The child is eligible until his/her fifth birthday and must  live with their parent(s) or guardian(s)  in one of our covered zip codes.