The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC), a proponent of early care and education, is continually seeking new partnerships to more fully engage children in the communities we serve in the love of books and reading.

The PIC is a partner in a national literacy program that has made its way to our area. The Private Industry Council, the Community Foundation of Fayette County, Laurel Business Institute, and Uniontown Public Library have teamed up with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to promote the literacy and reading development of children in Uniontown, PA. Through this partnership and community support, PIC, the Community Foundation of Fayette County, LBI, and Uniontown Library are able to provide children living in the city of Uniontown with FREE books delivered to their home until the child turns 5. Through its Family Literacy resources, the Private Industry Council became the initial prime sponsor of 100 children for the Imagination Library program, scheduled to begin July 1, 2007, in Uniontown, PA.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was launched in 1996 for preschoolers in Sevier County, Tennessee. Every child under the age of five, whether born into the community or moving to the community, received a free book each month until their fifth birthday. For the first three years, the books were distributed free only to the children of Sevier County. In December 1999, Dolly announced that she would extend the opportunity to replicate the Imagination Library program nationally.

Every enrolled child can now experience the joy of finding their very own book in their mail box. These moments continue each month until the child turns 5-and in their very last month in the program the children receive Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.

The program is open to all preschool children who reside in Uniontown City. The community partners will pay for the books and mailing, promote the program, register the children, and enter the children's information into the Imagination Library database. From there The Dollywood Foundation takes over and manages the system to deliver the books to the home. The cost to provide books for one child for one year is approximately $27.

To enroll your child in the program, you must:

• Be a resident of the city of Uniontown, PA
• Submit an official registration form, available through Uniontown Library. You can also register online at Imagination Library's website
• Notify us any time your address changes
• Read with your child

In 2006, the Community Foundation of Fayette County began investigating implementation of Imagination Library in the city of Uniontown.

On March 1, 2007, Uniontown City Imagination Library was announced at the Uniontown Public Library, with a target starting date of July 1, 2007.

For more information on the program, or if you are interested in sponsoring a child, please contact Christy Fusco, Head Librarian at Uniontown Public Library at 724-437-1165.