How two Sydney educators enrolled more than 200 children in the Imagination Library 

Educators Venice and Julie have helped build a special space at the Early Years Support Service in Airds, western Sydney, where families sing and read together at the regular playgroup sessions.

The young children explore specially curated sensory displays, spend time outdoors in the sandpit and enjoy dedicated quiet reading spaces. Each session always wraps up with 15-20 minutes of group time, featuring a familiar set of songs and a story before saying goodbye. 

The playgroup, run by Campbelltown City Council, is working its magic, with Venice seeing a transformation in many of the children over just a few weeks.

“For many children, when they first start, they are stuck to their parents like glue,” Venice says. 

“But in a few weeks they will be running around like they own the place. They feel like they belong here.”

 

“Fantastic feedback” to Imagination Library

Any new family joining the playgroup receives an enthusiastic recommendation from Venice and Julie to sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Thanks to a team effort – with Campbelltown City Library securing the initial funding and Education and Care Services rolling out the program – more than 200 local children have enrolled since last year.

Venice gets “fantastic feedback” from the families involved.

“All new families that attend playgroup are encouraged to sign up. Sometimes they will come in and tell us all about the books, and how their son wants to be read to all the time.”

 

Whole-of-family impact 

Beyond the educational benefits, Venice notices that receiving the Imagination Library books will sometimes create deeply emotional moments at home. 

“One mother got a little bit emotional because she had never actually seen her husband sit down in bed with their little girl and read her a story,” Venice recalls. 

“She said it was so beautiful, and she just loved that moment.”

 

Something tangible in a digital age

Venice is convinced that the books continue to be so popular partly because they are “something solid, something you can hold onto”.

“These days, everything is on a screen. But two minutes later, it’s gone,” Venice says.

“But with a book, anytime of the day, it’s something solid. You can touch and feel it.”

Venice talks fondly about her little library at home, which she intends one day to pass to the younger generations of her family.

“It is so nice to grow that library, to have it there and physically see it, to help it grow and pass it down.”

 

The delight of a book in the mail 

Co-educator Julie sees the magic of the program both in the classroom and through the eyes of her two-year-old grandson, Harry, who is enrolled in the program.

“He gets so excited when a book arrives,” Julie shares. “Sometimes he’ll ring me up just to say, ‘Nan, I’ve got the book, can you read it to me?’”

 

Empowering shared reading

The centre features a dedicated reading room with bookshelves set at child height, where children can independently choose a book, sit and read or bring it over to an adult.

“Julie and I roam the room – sometimes we will hear the parents changing their voices depending on character, and being creative,” Venice says. 

Make a donation, explore a corporate partnership, or talk to us about bringing the Imagination Library to your community. Click here