LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Education and the Lake County Literacy Task Force are excited to announce a new literacy program that will benefit babies born in Lake County.

Thanks to a partnership with Sutter Lakeside Hospital, the first 100 babies born at the Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s Family Birth Center will receive a scholarship for a one-year enrollment in Imagination Library.

Imagination Library was developed in 1995 by Dolly Parton to support literacy in her Tennessee hometown.

Since that time, the program has spread nationwide and was recently adopted as a primary initiative of the Lake County Literacy Task Force.

The goal of Imagination Library is to ensure that literacy begins at the earliest age possible with the child’s first teacher: the parent.

Children enrolled in the program between the ages of 0-4 will receive a book each month through the mail to read, enjoy and keep in their home.

Learning to read is a process that begins at birth. Research shows that students who are successful readers by the age of eight are more successful citizens in their communities.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital, the Lake County Office of Education and the Lake County Literacy Task Force are working to ensure that all children born in Lake County have a strong foundation in literacy.

“We’re honored that the Lake County Office of Education approached us with this opportunity. Sutter Health strongly believes in helping the communities that they serve and Imagination Library is a great way that we can positively affect the future of Lake County kids,” said Chief Administrative Officer, Siri Nelson.

You can support Lake County’s Imagination Library by sending a donation of $25 to the Lake County Office of Education c/o Literacy Task Force, 1152 S. Main Street, Lakeport, CA, Attention: Imagination Library.

If you have any questions, or if you need further information about this program, please contact Stephanie Wayment at Lake County Office of Education, 707-262-4163 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Your donation is tax deductible.