Follett Content ‘Educator Book Sale’ to back Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Proceeds from Sept. 28 event will go to United Way of Greater McHenry County to support its involvement with early childhood book-gifting program
Follett Content will hold an “Educator Book Sale” on Saturday, Sept. 28 with proceeds supporting the Dolly Parton Imagination Library — United Way of Greater McHenry County Chapter.
The book sale, being held in support of the program, is open to educators of all grade levels and positions, is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Follett Content warehouse, 1340 Ridgeview Drive in McHenry.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library sends children from birth to age five one high-quality, literacy-based book in the mail each month, no matter their family’s income, and extends its reach into McHenry County with the help for Follett Content and United Way. It partners with a local nonprofit organization in each community they serve. The local nonprofit, in this case, the United Way of Greater McHenry County, pays for the books and processes sign-ups for the program.
All print books, Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs will be priced at two for $1 and only cash will be accepted. There is no limit to the total number of items purchased by educators, who must present school identification for entry.
In December 2023, Dolly Parton Imagination Library announced it was expanding statewide in Illinois, reaching across 40 counties with nearly 30,000 children enrolled. It is free to enroll youths for the gifting program, which monthly provides books that are age-based, focused on building kindergarten readiness skills, designed to help create a lifelong love of reading — a mission Follett Content has long promoted and supported.
United Way of Greater McHenry County is funding the books for McHenry County children and is working to raise more than $10,000 as part of its partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library initiative.
All children in McHenry County from birth to 5 years old are eligible to be signed up for the program. To further their impact, Follett Content also will be holding a separate team member presale and proceeds from that event will be added to the Sept. 28 sales as part of the overall donation.
“The DPIL program has been proven to help foster a love of reading and to increase success in school,” said Jamie Maravich, president and CEO, United Way of Greater McHenry County. “We are excited to bring this wonderful program to McHenry County and cannot thank Follett Content enough for hosting the book sales and for their generous support.”
The Imagination Library Program is supported by The Dollywood Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Dolly Parton in 1988. Since launching in 1995, the Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world, with the mission of inspiring a love of reading in children from birth to age five.
The United Way of Greater McHenry County unites people and resources to build a stronger, more equitable community where all can thrive. Founded in 1966, our local united way focuses upon the impact areas of Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. Funds raised support their programs like DPIL as well as approximately 50 other programs provided by their 30 local nonprofit partner agencies. More than 1 in 4 McHenry County residents uses at least one of the programs.
Follett Content Solutions is the largest provider of educational materials to prekindergarten to 12th grade libraries, classrooms, learning centers and school districts in the United States, and a major supplier to educational institutions worldwide. Follett Content distributes textbooks, supplemental books, hands-on learning resources, audiovisual materials and digital resources through Titlewave, the most powerful online collection development and curriculum support tool for school libraries, librarians, and educators. Find Follett on Facebook and Instagram.