Ottawa County Imagination Library Board Member, Ed Carlson, stands next to a cutout of Dolly Parton on Dolly Parton Day at the Mickey Mart in Oak Harbor. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

OAK HARBOR – Ed Carlson and Jane Taylor spent part of Dolly Parton Day on Sept. 25 honoring the music and philanthropy icon by promoting a program that was very dear to Parton’s heart: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Carlson and Taylor are Ottawa County Imagination Library board members who each spent time at Oak Harbor and Port Clinton Mickey Mart gas stations with a life-size cutout of Parton.

Mickey Mart customers could have their photo taken with Parton, learn about Imagination Library which provides free books to kids ages birth to five, and register children for the program.

“We’re trying to give some advertising to Imagination Library and also support Mickey’s because Mickey’s had a roundup campaign for Imagination Library,” Carlson said.

A young reader has her photo taken with Dolly Parton on Dolly Parton Day at the Mickey Mart in Oak Harbor. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Right now, there are about 1,250 children registered for the program in Ottawa County.

“That’s the last number I have, but I heard we had a number of people email about registering after Dolly’s passing. I think that’s statewide, too,” Carlson said.

Carlson said Imagination Library promotes early literacy, which can have a lifetime impact on a child’s life.

A couple has a photo taken with Dolly Parton after making a donation to Imagination Library at Mickey Mart in Port Clinton. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“It starts them reading early, and it starts a bond between the parent and child,” he said. “If a child is not reading by third grade, they are four times more likely to drop out of school, and it cuts their earning capacity in half.”

Ottawa County Imagination Library existed for many years under United Way, but it is in the process of establishing its own 501(c)(3).

“By Jan. 1, we will take over from United Way,” Carlson said.

For more information, visit www.ohioimaginationlibrary.org.