With online enrollment, reading program opens new chapter

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GREENFIELD – The Hancock County Community Foundation and the Hancock County Public Library are working together to make literacy programs more accessible to county residents.

The foundation and library recently announced that children born on or after Jan. 1, 2016, may enroll online for the Hancock County Imagination Library, digitizing the process in hopes of reaching more parents.

Imagination Library, a program of the Dollywood Foundation, is made possible through a partnership between the two entities. Thanks to the library’s processing of registrations, 634 babies and toddlers from all over the county are now enrolled and receiving free, age-appropriate books.

Books are delivered monthly to the home and in the name of the enrolled child until their fifth birthday, according to a news release. Until now, enrollment was available only through the submission of a hard copy registration form.

Since November 2015, the foundation has led the funding initiative to raise $2 million needed to establish an endowment for the cost of the program for eligible Hancock County children. Endowing Imagination Library ensures the sustainability of the program for generations of children to come. Dec. 31 marked the attainment of $1 million, a benchmark allowing the organization to unlock online enrollment.

For more information about how to support Imagination Library or to enroll online, visit givehcgrowhc.org or visit a Hancock County Public Library branch.