VIDOR, Texas — Thousands of books have been given to young readers in Vidor over the past 10 years through a program created by one of country music's biggest stars.
Dolly Parton created the Imagination Library in 1995 to put free books in the hands of children in honor of her father who did not know how to read.
The Vidor Public Library and the Rotary Club of Vidor teamed up to make the program a success in the city.
"It's literally about getting education and reading into kids hands and I think that's, that's so amazing to me," said Atsha Quebedeaux, the Vidor Rotary Club's incoming president.
Every 1.3 seconds, a free book is mailed to a child through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
"We've distributed this year almost 1,000 books to children in the Vidor Public Library," said Gayle Nagai, treasurer for the Vidor Rotary Club. "And over the 10 years, we've distributed about 17,000 books."
The program sends free books to children from birth until they're 5-years-old.
"The first book they receive is The Little Engine That Could and the very last book they get is Kindergarten Here We Come," Nagai said.
The Rotary Club wants to bring more families into the beneficial program
"You can either go online to ImaginationLibrary.com and print out a registration form and mail it to us," said Nagai. "Or stop by the Vidor Public Library. They have registration cards there."
The program gives families access to books for their children, which Parton believes is important.
"I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my daddy," Parton explains. "He was the smartest man I have ever known but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams coming true."
Parton formed the program in 1995 and it has spread worldwide to promote the importance of reading.
"I was a struggling reader myself when I was younger and I think this program would have thoroughly helped me," Quebedeaux said.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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