Q. What is Imagination Library?
Imagination Library is a free, early literacy program that delivers to children age birth to five a new, age-appropriate book in the mail each month. Imagination Library promotes love of reading and learning.

Q. Is my child eligible?
All children in Greater Duluth (defined as zip codes 55802 thru 55812) under age 5 are eligible to receive Imagination Library books, at no cost to the family and regardless of income -- one book per month from birth to their fifth birthday, for a total of 60 books.

Q. What if I have more than one child?
Each child may be signed up to receive their very own Imagination Library! Imagination Library’s selection panel rotates some books in the Library each year, so that siblings do not receive full sets of identical titles.

Q. Is the program really free?
Yes! Imagination Library is intended as a gift to all children, therefore it is absolutely free for any child from birth to age five who lives in Greater Duluth at a zip code between 55802 and 55812, regardless of family income! All we ask is that families use the books to read together!

Q. How often will we get books?
Your child will receive a new, age-appropriate book each month in the mail until the child’s fifth birthday.

Q. After we sign up, how long will it take to get our first book?
Eight to ten weeks after your registration form has been received, books will begin arriving at your home and will continue to arrive until your child turns five or you move out of the Greater Duluth area.

Q. How are the books picked? Will they be appropriate for my child?
A blue ribbon committee of childhood education experts selects the books for the Imagination Library, which includes such well-loved classics as The Little Engine That Could, Spot Goes to the Farm, Snowy Day, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten.

The committee also determines an age-appropriate timeline for book themes, including: visual and playful stimulation in year one; repetition and body awareness in year two; love, colors and letters in year three; diversity of others and poetry in year four; and finally, riddles, science and appreciation in year five.

We are also proud to offer bilingual books this year featuring Spanish and English text on the same page.

Q. Does my child get to keep the books?
Yes! These books are your child’s to keep forever! The Imagination Library creates a love of book ownership as a way to also encourage a love of reading as an everyday activity.

Q. How do I sign up my child?
Parents and guardians may register their children using the official Imagination Library brochures, available at the Super One stores listed below and the Duluth Public Library. You may also register a child online at http://www.unitedwayduluth.org/impacting_imaginationlibrary-enroll.htm

Q. Is this program offered in Superior, Two Harbors or Cloquet?
Not yet. United Way of Superior/Douglas County plans to start offering Imagination Library by the end of this year, and United Way of Greater Duluth plans to expand the program into Two Harbors in 2009. We are not aware of plans to expand this program to Carlton County at this time. For more information, please contact your local United Way in Superior (715-394-2733) or Cloquet (218-879-8404).

Q: Can I sign up my out-of-town grandchild, niece or nephew in the Imagination Library?
Our contract with the Dollywood Foundation states that we are only allowed to deliver books to children who are “residents” of the Greater Duluth area – defined as zip codes that start with a 558. If the child is not a resident of the Greater Duluth area, they are not able to sign up for the program – even if they have relatives who live in the area. We encourage you to see if Imagination Library is offered in their home community. Please visit www.imaginationlibrary.org and find out where the program is available. If it is not available in your community, we encourage you to contact the local United Way to see if there are plans to start offering Imagination Library in the near future.

Q: My grandchild, niece or nephew lives in the Greater Duluth area – can I sign them up to receive books through Imagination Library?
A parent or guardian must complete the registration for a child to be registered in Imagination Library. The intent behind Imagination Library is that the books are delivered to children where they live. There are very specific circumstances where a parent/guardian may grant permission for the books to be delivered to an address other than the home address – if you have a specific circumstance, please call staff to discuss at 218-726-4770.