Imagination Library Colorado works to support current affiliates and grow new affiliates in new Colorado Counties to ensure all children under 5 have equitable access to books Dolly Celebrations Across Colorado September 25-27 Click the map image to interact with the map For those of you who wish to make a donation in Dolly's memory, please make checks payable to Imagination Library of Colorado send to: 3000 Lawrence Street Denver, CO 80205 *please include a note if you intend for your donation to support a specific county in Colorado DONATE ONLINE A Thank You to Dolly Parton “Today we mourn an extraordinary woman who changed the world in more ways than most people will ever know. Dolly Parton brought joy to millions through her music, but she also believed deeply that every child, regardless of where they were born or how much money their family had, deserved the opportunity to grow up surrounded by books. “That belief became Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. What began in her home county in Tennessee grew into an international movement reaching millions of children and families. “Here in Colorado, we have had the privilege of carrying Dolly's vision forward through Imagination Library of Colorado and our local partners across the state. We see every day what happens when a child receives a book addressed personally to them in the mail — and begins to believe that books, reading and learning belong to them. “Dolly's passing is an enormous loss, but the mission she created is very much alive. The organization, partnerships and people she inspired will continue this work. Colorado children will continue receiving books, and we intend to make sure that generations of children who never had the opportunity to know Dolly personally will nevertheless know what she believed in. “There may be no better way to honor Dolly Parton than to keep putting books into the hands of children. That work continues.” Enroll your child for a FREE book each month Through our program, Colorado children are eligible to receive a FREE book every month from ages 0-5. Enroll your child here at no cost to begin building their home library and strengthening childhood literacy across the state. If you'd like to help support a Colorado child in your community, donating just $31 will cover the cost of their monthly Imagination Library books for an entire year. Your support helps young learners grow up with strong early literacy skills and the confidence they need to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. Since the creation of Colorado’s statewide Imagination Library program in 2020, every locally raised dollar is matched by the state, doubling the impact of each gift. By ensuring families receive high-quality, age-appropriate books at no cost, the Imagination Library of Colorado nurtures a love of reading, strengthens family storytime routines, and builds a culture of literacy for every child in Colorado. Enroll A Child & Donate Enroll A Child 3,405,000 books and counting mailed to Colorado children since 2021. 62,284 five year olds in Colorado have graduated from the Imagination Library. 92,000+ Colorado children receive monthly books from the Imagination Library. 29% of Colorado's zero- to-five year old's population is enrolled in Imagination Library. BY THE NUMBERS Thanks to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) for funding the Imagination Library in Colorado, 50% of books are funded by the state and 50% of the books are funded locally. Getting books into the hands of Colorado's early learners through the Imagination Library of Colorado is made possible with support from the CDEC and local champions.

Actualización de las noticias Bilingual English/Spanish Book Collection Now Available for Colorado Families! Families who are currently enrolled or plan to register a child for Imagination Library now have another monthly book option for their children; a fully bilingual English/Spanish book collection for registered children to receive until their fifth birthday. More Governor Polis Hands Out Dolly Parton Imagination Library’s Two-Millionth Book in Colorado On March 7, 2025, Governor Jared Polis, Llama Llama (of Red Pajama fame), and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) delivered the 2 millionth book through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at Westwood Early Learning Center. The program, launched by Dolly Parton in 1995 and expanded to Colorado in 2020, mails free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age 5 every month. “Books are our windows into the world, and access to literature for children is a great way to improve reading, and inspire the next generation of poets, authors, and literary geniuses. I am excited to just a year later be delivering the 2 millionth book to Colorado children, thanks to Dolly’s successful Imagination Library initiative,” said Governor Polis. More Governor Polis Hands Out Dolly Parton Imagination Library’s One-Millionth Book in Colorado On February 27, 2024, Governor Polis, joined by Representative Emily Sirota, Senator Jeff Bridges, and Imagination Library CEO Jack Tate, handed out the one-millionth book from Dolly Parton’s Colorado Imagination Library. Launched by Dolly in 1995 and expanded to Colorado in 2020, this universal book-gifting program was created to inspire a love of reading by gifting books to children (0- 5 yrs. old), free of charge through funding shared by local community partners. “Thanks to Dolly, more Colorado kids tumble out of bed, stumble to the kitchen, pour themselves a cup of ambition, and read from 9 to 5! It is important that at a young age, students have access to books to foster their love of reading. I’m thrilled that today I was able to hand out the one-millionth book. This heart-warming program brings so much joy to Colorado’s young readers and helps our kids grow into avid readers and learners. Thanks, Dolly!” said Governor Polis. More Governor Polis Signs New Law, Imagination Library Colorado Moves to CDEC On February 27, 2024, Governor Polis Signed HB24-1205, Colorado Imagination Library Program, sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Rick Taggart, and Senators Rachel Zenzinger and Barbara Kirkmeyer. This bill transfers the operation of the Colorado Imagination Library from the Colorado Department of Education to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and allows the library to partner with eligible non-profits to procure more books and expand the program's reach. More CDEC / ILCO Action Lab Report is Available! ILCO started partnering with the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab (Colorado Lab) in 2022 to evaluate the program. The evaluation focuses on estimating the causal impact of the program using a matched comparison design. The evaluation leverages historical data from parts of the state that have been participating in ILCO since before the pandemic. We invite you to review this September 2023 ILCO report on Early Literacy If you have questions about this informative report, please email us at Books@ImaginationLibraryColorado.org Read Report Here Colorado Kicks Off Statewide Expansion of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library During Family Literacy Month Governor Jared Polis, Education Commissioner Katy Anthes, and the Imagination Library of Colorado joined American icon Dolly Parton to announce the Colorado statewide expansion of her namesake Imagination Library book-gifting program. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books to children (0- 5 yrs. old), free of charge through funding shared by local community partners. "I'm so excited to be working with Governor Polis, the Department of Education, and our Colorado affiliate organization to bring my Imagination Library to more children and families across Colorado! Together we can gift a love of reading that will last a lifetime," said Dolly Parton. "Developing an early love for reading is so important for children’s success, and the Imagination Library shows Colorado’s commitment to making sure that every child and family can succeed,” said Governor Polis. “I’m thrilled that more Colorado children will have access to the books they need to develop a passion for reading and drive their imaginations even further.” During this first year of expansion, the Imagination Library of Colorado will form new partnerships with local community partners and donors throughout the State. Year one is a year of growth: promoting existing programs and getting new affiliates up to speed. We have a handful of established programs across the state and will be adding new affiliates all of the time. Continue to check back here as we expand programs across the state! Would you like to become a community partner ? Click more to watch Governor Polis announce the launch of the statewide program More Governor Polis Proclaims November as Family Literacy Month for Launch of Imagination Library in Colorado The state of Colorado recognizes the Month of November as time for each family to focus on reading and early literacy skills. Click more to view the Proclamation More Imagination Library of Colorado Launches to Provide Books to Kids across The Centennial State Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is launches statewide program to build affiliates in every county. The first year Imagination Library of Colorado will focus on: Partnering with local communities to bring Imagination Library programs to new counties. Our local partners are the heart of the program. They promote the program online and at in-person events, fundraise, and enroll children who live within their geographical area. More Colorado Awards Imagination Library of Colorado Contract Awarded in September of 2021, the contract begins mid October building a statewide network of nonprofits managing Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The goal is to create an affiliate in every Colorado county and enroll 60% of children birth to 5. For more information, read an article on The Denver Post. More Governor Signs Senate Bill 20-185 On July 10, 2020, Governor Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 20-185 creating the Colorado Imagination Library Program, providing funding to expand the early childhood literacy program. Senators Jack Tate and Jeff Bridges, co-prime sponsors of the Bill, stand behind the Governor at the Arapahoe County Library Sheridan Branch. More Imagination Library of Colorado Receives Tax Exempt Status Imagination Library of Colorado Receives Tax Exempt Status under 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code. More

Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Dolly Celebrations Across Colorado | September 25-27 Throughout the weekend of September 25, 26 and 27 , we want communities across Colorado to celebrate Dolly in whatever way works for them. Host a storytime, fundraiser, specialty drink, live music night, kids’ activity, Dolly look-alike contest—or partner with something already happening in your community. Colorado’s Dolly Celebration in Denver | September 25, 3–7 PM If you are near the Denver metro area, please come celebrate with us! ILCO is working hand-in-hand with the Governor’s Office on a special “9 to 5” Dolly Celebration on September 25 from 3–7 PM at the Governor’s Mansion and surrounding green space . Plans are coming together quickly and include storytime inside the Governor’s Mansion, live music, karaoke, a Doggie Parton Dolly Look-Alike Contest , family activities, food trucks, Dolly-themed beverages and lots more. We’ll have full details soon, but please save the date and join us in Denver if you can! You do not need to create a big event! Look around your community and see what libraries, restaurants, breweries, bookstores, schools, arts organizations and other partners may already be planning. Join forces, add an Imagination Library component, or create something uniquely yours. ILCO is here to help with marketing materials, graphics, messaging, ideas and promotion. Here is the interactive statewide map so families can find Dolly celebrations happening throughout Colorado. Click on the map to find out more!

Check Availability to see if Imagination Library is currently available in your neighborhood. Congratulations on completing your wellness challenge! Reward: a few books, stickers, and bookmarks for children ages 0-5. The Imagination Library of Colorado's mission is to increase literacy and kindergarten readiness by ensuring that all Colorado children ages 0-5 receive one free book each month. Do you know a child between the ages zero and five to gift this reward to? Yes No Do you have children 0-5 enrolled in the program? Yes No First name* Last name* Email* Multi-line address País/región* Dirección* Ciudad* Código postal* County* Submit Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales La biblioteca de la imaginación de Dolly Parton ha lanzado un programa estatal en Colorado para construir filiales financiadas de manera sostenible en cada condado. Durante el primer año, Imagination Library of Colorado se centrará en asociarse con las comunidades locales para llevar los programas de Imagination Library a nuevos condados y apoyar a los afiliados actuales para expandir su área de servicio. Puede que todavía no haya un afiliado en su vecindario, pero estamos trabajando arduamente para expandirnos y conectarnos con campeones locales para lanzar afiliados. Consulte la disponibilidad a continuación. Si desea recibir una notificación cuando se abra una sucursal en su área, regístrese con su correo electrónico a través de ImaginationLibrary.com Visita Conviértete en afiliado para conocer qué se necesita para lanzarte en tu comunidad o apoyar económicamente a tu afiliado local. Enroll Donate

Fundamentals about reading to your child and why it's important Leyéndole a su hijo ¿Por qué es importante la comunicación del bebé al nacer? Las señales no verbales, como el contacto visual, los arrullos, el llanto y la escucha, son el lenguaje que usa tu bebé para comunicarte sus necesidades, deseos y sentimientos. Cuando los padres responden a los gestos de su bebé, construyen la arquitectura misma de su cerebro, sentando las bases para el desarrollo futuro del lenguaje, la comunicación y las relaciones. La interacción “servir y devolver” moldea el cerebro Solo tienes que sonreír, hablar, cantar, leer, jugar y responderle a tu bebé. Se llama interacción de "dar y devolver". Este proceso de ida y vuelta es fundamental para el desarrollo cerebral, especialmente en los primeros años. Las interacciones de dar y devolver ayudan a los padres a crear un entorno seguro para los bebés, y les ayudan a comprender que están siendo cuidados y comprendidos. 0-24 MONTHS Themes & Concepts Emphasis on the development of sight and vision with big text and bright colors Teaching sensory skills through touch with thick, board pages Rhyme and rhythm of words in a repetitive style Simple and easy-to-use everyday text for vocabulary development Minimal text with engaging, “point-and-say” illustrations Playful sounds of everyday characters and sing along text to enhance auditory skills Nurturing and attachment themes in sing-song pattern Tips to Try Help your baby to explore the book. Let your baby turn the pages, grab, or even chew on it. Point out interesting pictures and take the time to ask questions as you read. Say, “Look at the butterfly.” Cover it and ask, “Where is the butterfly?” Uncover it and say, “Peek-a-boo butterfly!” Stay on a page for as long as your baby is interested. Turn the page or stop reading when your baby looks away or seems tired or bored. Read with joy and excitement. Use different voices for different characters. Ask questions your child can answer by pointing. You can say, “Where’s the doggie?” or “Where’s the happy baby?” or “Who says meow?” Imitate the sounds your child makes while looking at a picture. Then add a very short phrase, such as, “Moo, the cow says moo.” Copy your reactions to the book you are enjoying together. Speaking in slow, short sentences and waiting for your child to take a turn talking helps him understand. Let your toddler give a picture a name; then add a comment like: “Yes, a plane! The plane is flying. The plane is flying in the sky.” Help your child pretend to be a character in a book. You can pretend to feed a baby or be puppies, barking and running after each other. 2 -3 YEARS 4-5 YEARS

If you're interested in starting a local affiliate in your county, learn more about Becoming an Imagination Library affiliate in Colorado. Regale libros a los niños de su condado Pasos para convertirse en afiliado Step 1: Check Availability If you’re interested in starting an affiliate program for the children in your community, first check to see if the Imagination Library is already offered in your community. What do you need to consider to get started? Partnering with a Non-profit (501c3): We mail IL books at special non-profit mailing rates, and a non-profit partner must be involved to qualify for these rates. Registration & Enrollment Plans: How will your organization grow enrollment? The Imagination Library of Colorado staff can help you grow your program sustainably. Funding: You will need to identify financial support to sustainably cover the wholesale cost of the books and mailing. You will need to identify your service area and eligible 0-5 population. How much funding do you need for an Imagination Library program? Decide on the geographical area you think you would like to cover – such as a county, city, school district or zip code(s). The goal of Imagination Library of Colorado, and the State of Colorado is to have one affiliate in each of Colorado’s 64 counties so that all children in Colorado have access to enroll in DPIL Find the 0-5 population from a census website. Try FactFinder Enter the 0-5 population into the Cost Estimator on the DPIL website. (DPIL utilizes the most current Census data) The State of Colorado passed legislation subsidizing the cost of the monthly book invoice at 50%. Common financial supporters/non-profit partner: Service Clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, Junior League, etc.) Friends of the Library Local foundations Local businesses Chambers of Commerce Individual donors School Districts Community Foundation Fiscal Agents Start your own 501c3 Step 2: Putting the Pieces in place Contact the Imagination Library of Colorado staff at @books@ImaginationLibraryColorado.org to discuss your options Talk through service area & cost Work with ILCO and connect with Pam Hunsaker, DPIL Regional Director to complete the DPIL Affiliate Memorandum of Agreement Get the ILCO sample Memorandum of Agreement and New Affiliate Information Sheet – the two documents that we’ll put in place to outline our relationship and capture key information NOTE: all Colorado affiliates must complete a Colorado and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) Memorandum of Agreement Step 3: Build your team Key roles to consider: Chairperson – a person to coordinate the effort Fundraising – to sustainably identify and collect local funds Enrollment – plan where and how to enroll children, oversee registration brochure distribution (if using) and marketing campaigns Database – entering new registrations, accepting pending online registrations, updating addresses, utilizing reports in the Book Order System (BOS) Community Outreach – collaborate with other local organizations and coalitions. Also may collect undeliverable books from your local post office Family Engagement – plans efforts to encourage parents to better engage their children through DPIL books and read more often *TIP – Also consider engaging other community partners to build coalitions and collective impact strategies. Ask your Regional Director for help with ideas and informative docs. Step 4: Fundraising Budget Engage your support team for contacts Consider putting together an advisory council to assist Identify potential funding partners and begin meeting with them *NOTE– At this point you should have a good plan outlined: an idea of the funds you will need, community details/facts and partners who are willing to help – this will all help make your ask more clear and direct. Step 5: Complete and Submit Required Affiliate Documents Return completed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and New Affiliate Information Sheet to Colorado’s Director of Affiliate Relations and the MOA to the DPIL. Affiliate Regional Director Submit USPS form 3623 or 3624 (if non-profit hasn’t already done so) to local post office and return the non-profit authorization code to your Regional Director You'll receive access to the Book Order System to learn the enrollment and mailing process Step 6: Make Final Preparations and Launch! BOOK ORDER SYSTEM LOGIN Receive your Book Order System login information and operations manual. Work with Colorado’s Director of Affiliate Relations to answer any questions and provide support to your organization. The database is not difficult to manage, but does take some time to learn. IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROFILE You will need to update your profile on the BOS portal so that the book return labels are correct, parents can contact you to edit or add registrations. You may include the name of your sponsor on the monthly labels if you choose. (recommended) ENROLL CHILDREN You may now enter registrations into the BOS. Email us to switch to Operating status when you are ready to begin accepting online registrations and start mailing books! WEBSITE Your affiliate information will be able to be accessed via the Imagination Library national website. You aren’t required to create, pay for, host your own website. Please contact ILCO for more information. COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS: Set up a mail chimp account so that your organization can communicate with parents. While you are restricted from ever asking parents for donations, you can communicate program information, community events and resources, or share exciting milestones. LAUNCH Think about planning a launch event to build awareness and excitement. Consider working with ILCO to plan outreach and awareness. RESOURCES FROM DPIL & CO Utilize available resources: Promotional materials available via DPIL & ILCO Grant writing advice, Director of Operations & Grants Colorado’s Director of Affiliate Relations Imagination Library Affiliate Network

Bilingual English/Spanish Book Collection Now Available for Colorado Families! Families who are currently enrolled or plan to register a child for Imagination Library now have another monthly book option for their children; a fully bilingual English/Spanish book collection for registered children to receive until their fifth birthday. Families can choose between two collections of Imagination Library books: the primarily English book collection with occasional bilingual English/Spanish books, or a 100% bilingual English/Spanish book collection. Plus, families can now select their preferred language for program communications, making the experience even more accessible and inclusive. How to opt-in to receive the new bilingual book collection: If you are currently registered and receiving monthly Imagination Library books, login to the Parent Portal below. Once logged in, click on the blue arrow beside your child's name and select your Book Language preference, then click Update to save. Bilingual Book List

Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales ILCO organizó nuestro Jamboree anual de primavera con afiliados la semana pasada, del 9 al 10 de mayo en Denver. El Jamboree comenzó el jueves por la noche con un cóctel de recepción con cena, música, networking y juegos de trivia de Dolly. Los oradores incluyeron: el gobernador Polis pasó el viernes por la mañana para celebrar los éxitos del programa con los afiliados y aceptar una foto autografiada de Dolly, Kelly Dunkin de Co Gives Foundation, Brooke Seigle de Imagination Library Middle Tennessee/United Way of Greater Nashville; y una sesión de 3 partes sobre El papel de los libros y los hitos del desarrollo con la Dra. Michelle Shiffman , pediatra de Reach Out and Read, Heather Craiglow de CDEC/Head Start y la maestra de 1er grado Christy Howard de Steele Elem en Co Springs. Nicolle Davies, Allie Wegner (Co Labs), Michelle Anthony (Dollywood Foundation) también dieron una actualización sobre Imagination Library a nivel estatal y nacional. Asistieron más de 40 afiliados de todo Colorado. Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Brooke Seigle Brooke Seigle Brooke Seigle Dra. Michelle Shiffman Heather Craiglow / CDEC Brillante por texto Brooke Seigle Participación de afiliados Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Michelle Anthony is a regional director for The Dollywood Foundation. She’s passionate about bringing positive change to her community, and has spent her entire career working in the non-profit sector for youth serving organizations. Michelle and her husband have two daughters, and all four of them are avid readers! Outside of reading, they enjoy watching the Denver Broncos, playing sports, spending time in the Rocky Mountains, and just being together as a family. Brooke Seigle Allie Kallmann Wegner is a Senior Researcher at the Colorado Evaluation & Action Lab at the University of Denver. The Colorado Lab was created in 2017 under the leadership of the Governor's Office as the state's policy lab. They work with a broad range of government, community, and family partners to unlock data-informed solutions and identify opportunities to foster meaningful and sustained change. In this session, we will discuss the results of the 2025 evaluation of ILCO, as well as potential policy implications. Brooke Seigle Caitlin Raaz is a speech-language pathologist and researcher specializing in early language development and speech sound disorders. As an associate professor at the University of Northern Colorado, Caitlin focuses on innovative service delivery models to address health disparities in underserved communities. Children in rural communities often face barriers to early intervention, including provider shortages, long waitlists, and limited access to culturally responsive support. To help address these gaps, our USDA-funded project piloted in Eastern Colorado equips home visitors with practical, evidence-based strategies to support children’s early communication and language development while families wait for formal services. This session will share lessons from our pilot program, including how easy-to-use digital tools can help families build strong early language and literacy skills in culturally and linguistically responsive ways. We will also discuss how this model can be adapted to create engaging content for the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Colorado as part of our project’s next phase. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen their role in promoting early literacy and bridging gaps in early intervention for the families they serve. Brooke Seigle “When You Love a Book: Inspiring Children to Make Friends with Reading,” a fireside chat with literacy outreach specialist, Mary Lanni , and the author and illustrator of "When You Love a Book," Kaz Windness and Heather Brockman Lee . Imagination Library's July book for age group 4, “When You Love a Book,” was written and illustrated by local Colorado residents Kaz Windness and Heather Brockman Lee. Mary Lanni is a librarian, book reviewer, and a youth literacy advocate. Brooke Seigle

Parent Questions How do I enroll my child? Imagination Library Colorado is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. The program is available for all Colorado children 0–5, so long as there is a local partner in your area supporting the cost of books. Check your local availability here. If you'd like to be notified when an affiliate opens in the area please sign up with your email via ImaginationLibrary.com How do I update my address? Why am I not receiving books? When will my child receive their first book? How are the books free for families? I’m expecting our baby in 6 months, when can I sign them up? Are there Braille or Audio options? I have twins, will they always receive the same books each month? How do I know if my child was accepted into the program? I was told my local Imagination Library is closing because of lack of funds. Why doesn’t Dolly do something about this or just give them the money they need to keep this program going?

Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Mapa de matrícula estatal - junio de 2025 Más de 84.000 niños de Colorado reciben un libro cada mes. La primera filial local de Imagination Library se lanzó en Colorado en 2005. Ahora hay 59 organizaciones asociadas sin fines de lucro en todo Colorado. Se han entregado 280 millones de libros y la cifra sigue aumentando a niños pequeños desde 1996. Recibir libros por correo es una forma sencilla y efectiva de generar entusiasmo en torno a los libros. Los niños que participan en DPIL tienen un 30% más de probabilidades de comenzar la escuela preparados para el jardín de infantes. Imagination Library está completamente abierta e inscribe a niños en 61 de los 64 condados de Colorado, enviando libros por correo al 27% de los niños elegibles en todo el estado. El 16% de los libros enviados por correo cada año son totalmente bilingües en inglés y español o tienen Contenido en español. ¡Pronto habrá más contenido en español! The brain is more influenced by the experiences in a child’s earliest years. The brain’s ability to adapt—known as brain plasticity—declines as we age. Adapted from a graph created by Pat Levitt in collaboration with the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2009). In classrooms across the state, 60% of 3rd graders are not reading at their grade level. Third grade is considered a vital milestone in a student’s career in terms of reading proficiency and has a strong correlation to whether or not a student will graduate from high school. Recent studies show that 85% of a child’s core brain development occurs before the age of three. Additional studies have shown the importance of early reading by demonstrating that more reading at home during the pre-kindergarten year translates to improved development of brain areas supporting mental imagery, narrative comprehension and oral language skills. Additional research indicates a dramatic correlation between the number of books in the home and a child's future academic achievement. Researchers have concluded that children growing up with a home library, even as small as 25 books, achieved 2.4 more years of education than children from bookless homes. Children participating in DPIL are 30% more likely to start school kindergarten-ready. Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Report Highlights: Children enrolled in ILCO scored 0.125 standard deviations higher on the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment at kindergarten entry compared to non-participants in the same schools. ILCO participants were 16–24% less likely to score “well below benchmark” on DIBELS, reducing the need for costly remedial reading support. Benefits were seen broadly across student groups, with no significant differences for multilingual learners or children from low-income families. These benefits are substantial, particularly in light of the the low cost of ILCO implementation. This can set students on a positive reading trajectory and reduce the system, district, and school resources needed to make up early literacy gaps. Authors: Allie Kallmann Wegner , MA, M.Ed., Staff Researcher II, Colorado Evaluation & Action Lab Kristin Klopfenstein , PhD, Executive Director, Colorado Evaluation & Action Lab Phil Pendergast , PhD, Assistant Professor, Western Washington University View Full Evaluation Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales ILCO emails a satisfaction survey to all parents with children enrolled in the program. From this survey, we measure the success of the program by tracking how often parents read to their children, how prepared the parent feels the child is for kindergarten, and the impact the Imagination Library program has had on the child’s literacy. Parent/Caretaker Survey results from 31 ILCO counties administered between July 2024 through June 2025. Counties include: Adams (Aurora), Arapahoe, Archuleta, Alamosa, Bayfield, Broomfield, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Denver, Dolores, Douglas, Garfield, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Las Animas, Logan, Mineral, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Ouray, Park, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, Summit, Weld. Recipients: 31,720 Responses: 3,943 Response Rate: 12% Download Full Report 64% report “I am reading more often to my child ” 42% report “Other Members of the family read more often to my child ” Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales “Mi niño es pequeño tiene dos años, no habla mucho y la lectura ayuda con su vocabulario. ” - Weld County Parent “Thank you so much for providing books for my child! His enthusiasm and love for books has grown 100 fold and I love that we can go get more books for him to enjoy. He loves other books by the authors that have written the books that he’s received in the mail. It’s been a huge success for our family. ” - Broomfield Parent “I can't thank you enough for this amazing program. Our kids love all the books - they are the centerpiece to evenings and bedtime for our family. ” - Denver Parent “Without this resource I’m not sure I would have books in my home. I love seeing my little one enjoying story time. ” - Routt County Parent "WE LOVE this ----truly we are so beyond grateful for this program. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU " - Larimer County Parent “I love seeing the excitement on her face when she sees that a new book has arrived. That book will then be her ‘favorite’ for the next week or so. ” - Jefferson County Parent “Su vocabulario a tenido un mayor crecimiento además de la pronunciación de palabras a mejorado muchísimo. ” - Aurora Parent

Volunteer with Imagination Library of Colorado Voluntario ¡Estamos encantados de que le gustaría ofrecer su tiempo como voluntario en la Biblioteca de la imaginación de Colorado mientras comenzamos un nuevo capítulo en la alfabetización de la primera infancia! Visite nuestro localizador de bibliotecas de imaginación local en para encontrar a su coordinador local y comuníquese con ellos. ¡Podrán instruirlo sobre cómo puede ayudar en nuestro trabajo en su comunidad local! El registro, la recaudación de fondos y los embajadores de la comunidad son todas formas en las que puede apoyar a los afiliados de Colorado. Estamos muy agradecidos por los defensores de la alfabetización como usted en todo Colorado que están haciendo que nuestro programa sea un éxito.