For a decade now, a program based in Winkler has been creating a foundation for a love of books early in life.
Developing a library
The Winkler and District Imagination Library is a preschool literacy initiative. Free of charge, it provides books to children from birth to 5 years old. Once enrolled, children receive a package addressed to them in the mail with an age-appropriate title.
“It's been 10 years since we started. It all started with Joyce Sawatzky, who was a librarian at Winkler Elementary school,” says Dorothy Derksen, the chairperson of the Imagination Library. “She thought it would be a great idea because she noticed that some families did not have many books at home, and this would be an incentive for the children to have a library by the time they reach school age.”
Forging connections
Derksen, who has been with the local program since its inception, says that it has made a positive impact on the community in a few different ways, including priming students for school.
“We start so early . . . with books because . . . they must learn how a book works and how to read left to right,” says Derksen. “They also associate pictures with words, so even if the parent doesn't speak English, they can speak about the pictures. These are all steps along the way to learning to read.”
Beyond the educational aspect, in Derksen’s view, sitting with a child in a comfortable place and reading together creates a powerful association between reading and love that carries on into school and throughout life.
“We've had quite a bit of feedback from kindergarten teachers . . . and from parents that they really appreciate this program," she says. "It’s a way for children to bond with their parents and when they come to school, they are familiar with books and they're very excited . . . if the teacher wants to read a book that they already have.”
For one local family, the program has served a particularly heartfelt role.
“One day [we] got a call from a parent who was very apologetic that she hadn't called earlier, and . . . she says, ‘Well, my daughter passed away a few months ago, but I didn't cancel the books because each month when the book comes, our son, who is in grade 2, goes to the grave site and reads that book to his little sister,’” says Derksen, adding that because the mother was also expecting at the time, the program decided to keep sending books to the family.
Enthusiasm from the start
Long before impactful stories began to come out of the Imagination Library, the program garnered attention at its beginning. Derksen says that 257 children were registered on the first day ten years ago, and in 2024, the number hovers around 800 in the Garden Valley School Division (GVSD).
The program sees support from fundraising efforts and GVSD. Derksen says that the operating cost each year is about $40,000. The local program is responsible for purchasing the books and the postage to mail them, but the Dolly Parton Foundation, through which the program is administered, selects the books and arranges the schedule.
“When [Parton] was growing up, they had only one book in their house and that was the Bible. She said her father was illiterate because he'd never learned to read,” says Derksen. “[After she got famous,] she thought about children in her county, [and] she thought she would support them in their education.”
The Imagination Library was a success in its county, and soon spread to neighbouring communities and then countries. Derksen says that 7 countries are now involved in the program.
Celebrating a milestone
The local chapter of Imagination Library will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on Saturday, October 26th at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Winkler from 2–4 p.m.
“There will be story time and balloon animals and play centres, [and] cake and coffee as well,” says Derksen. “It's basically a come and go, but at 2:15, we'll have a program sharing why Dolly Parton started the Imagination Library, how we got started, and comments from a parent . . . . We invite everyone to come and share the celebration with us.”
Registration for the Imagination Library program can be found on the Winkler Family Resource Centre’s website. After filling out a brief form, children can set out on their journey with reading.
~With files from Connie Bailey~