BENEFITS AND IMPACT
BENEFITS AND IMPACT
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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library yields immediate value, creates long-term return on investment, improves educational outcomes, and strengthens family and community bonds.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library yields immediate value, creates long-term return on investment, improves educational outcomes, and strengthens family and community bonds.
VALUE FOR MONEY
VALUE FOR MONEY
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is expanded into each new area by a local partner who are responsible for raising the funds to cover the cost of the books (plus postage and packaging).
The overheads are covered by The Dollywood Foundation who provide the core infrastructure and co-ordinate the programme. Dollywood's subsidy and economies of scale result in excellent value for money.
We need to raise just £26 per year for each child under 5 years old, on the Isle of Man.
For this we receive approximately £143 worth of books and service, due to the support and economies of scale provided by The Dollywood Foundation.
That's an immediate return on investment of 450%!
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
The impact on child development remains until at least Key Stage 2. Children who received Imagination Library books surpassed their peers in meeting the Key Stage 1 'Expected Standard', even when socio-demographic factors were taken into account:
Reading
Reading
Participation increases success by
20%
20%
Writing
Writing
Participation increases success by
19.7%
19.7%
Maths
Maths
Participation increases success by
16.2%
16.2%
Findings from 'Books Babies and Bonding: the impact of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library on parental engagement in book-sharing with children 0-5 years old'Dr Caroline Zwierzchowska-Dod PhD, funded by Swansea University and The Dollywood Foundation, May 2022
FAMILY BENEFITS
FAMILY BENEFITS
With the convenience of free books delivered right to their door, parents and caregivers are gently nudged to engage in the magical world of storytelling with their child. The books serve as a catalyst for meaningful interactions, strengthening the parent-child relationship and deepening mutual understanding. Feedback from parents emphasises the profound bonding experiences that arise from reading together.
88% "We read more often"
92% "We share the books with older and younger siblings in our family"
93% "I enjoy reading with my child more"
97% "The books have helped develop my child's speech and language"
98% "My child looks forward to the books arriving"
99% "My child is enthusiastic to share books with me"
When the age of the child, number of children in the family, parental education, ethnicity and gender were taken into account, families receiving Imagination Library books are around 30% more likely to read daily than other families surveyed.
Findings from 'Books Babies and Bonding: the impact of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library on parental engagement in book-sharing with children 0-5 years old'Dr Caroline Zwierzchowska-Dod PhD, funded by Swansea University and The Dollywood Foundation, May 2022
SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS
SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS
The impact extends beyond individual families, to benefits for our island community at large. Shared experiences strengthen social cohesion and create community bonds. The island community collectively funding free books to under fives increases the Isle of Man's value proposition as a great place to live.
Shared Experiences
Shared Experiences
Children born in the same calendar year receive the same books, creating shared experiences among peers and the potential to foster powerful interactions within our community.
"the Imagination Library connects my son to his peers because everyone has the same book"
Universal Access
Universal Access
All under 5s in the Isle of Man will be eligible regardless of family income. The programme's universality is egalitarian and could be a 'levelling-up' experience.
There should be neither a sense of receiving charity or perceived unfairness from the 'squeezed-middle' who are finding their family finances stretched but are ineligible for support.
Building Communities
Building Communities
The Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading and we hope to work with local 'bricks and mortar' libraries and nurseries to create connections around the books.
“the preschool often do projects around them, each child has the same book at home which really includes every child no matter what their home circumstances are”
Parent quotes from 'Books Babies and Bonding: the impact of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library on parental engagement in book-sharing with children 0-5 years old'Dr Caroline Zwierzchowska-Dod PhD, funded by Swansea University and The Dollywood Foundation, May 2022
LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS
LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS
The Imagination Library programme not only yields immediate value but, by targeting early years education and ultimately resulting in a better educated workforce, offers a remarkable long-term return on investment.
Reading for Pleasure
Reading for Pleasure
Reading for pleasure is a greater indicator of a child's future educational success than their family's socio-economic status including their parents' educational backgrounds and income.
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Department for Education (UK)Is reading for pleasure the single biggest factor in how well a child does in life?
More or Less: Behind the Stats
The Heckman Curve
The Heckman Curve
The Heckman Curve shows that "the highest rate of economic return comes from investing as early as possible in children, from birth through age five, in disadvantaged families".
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The Heckman CurveProfessor James Heckman
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics (2000)
Narrowing the Gap
Narrowing the Gap
Research comparing families' socioeconomics suggested that the Imagination Library could considerably enhance disadvantaged children's future academic outcomes. Narrowing the gap between them and their better-off counterparts.
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Evaluating the impact of book gifting on the reading behaviours of parents and young children - Research in Nottingham funded by 'Small Steps Big Changes'
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