About Us
The Charlotte County Imagination Library is an affiliate of
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which originated in
Sevierville, Tennessee in 1996. The Imagination Library has
grown to serve over 1.5 million children across the United
States as well as Canada and the United Kingdom.
The Charlotte County Imagination Library was launched in
2011 by local salon and spa business owner Shawn Gilstad of
The Purple House Salon. Growing up in Tennessee
Shawn had seen firsthand what a difference the gift of
literacy could mean for the children of a community. Shawn's
vision of bringing the gift of literacy to Charlotte County
children required that he partner with an established
501(c)3 Non-Profit. Shawn joined forces with Sherrie Moody
of the
Charlotte Players, the oldest 501(c)3 in Charlotte County
and a great partnership was formed.
Our program is run by local educators, business owners and
community supporters and is funded by local business
sponsors
and community donations.
Our purpose is to promote early childhood development,
encourage parent-child interaction, enhance children’s
literacy
and better prepare youngsters for kindergarten.
We welcome all children under the age of five to enroll in
this program. There is no better time to start reading to a
child than now. The Charlotte County Imagination Library is
excited to be able to offer this service to the children and
parents of our community!
How the Imagination Library Works:
- Encourages positive parent-child interactions
- Improves readiness for kindergarten
- Sets the foundation for success in school, which sets the foundation for success in life.
- Recognize pictures, numbers and words
- Understand what a story is
- Know how to flip through a book
- Know the joy of receiving a gift in the mail every month
- Love reading stories with their parents or caregivers
- Are better prepared for kindergarten
- Parents register their children by completing a simple form
- Children can be enrolled online in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library by going to www.imaginationlibrary.com
- Approximately 2 months after registration, the first book arrives in the mail, from the Dollywood Foundation in a clear plastic wrapper so it is immediately recognizable.
- A new book arrives in the mail free of charge to the family every single month until the child’s fifth birthday