Dolly Parton's legacy lives on through free books for Linden children
Linden Public Library was the first library in New Jersey to join the literacy initiative. Since launching the program, about 300 Linden children have enrolled and receive a new book in the mail each month at no cost to their families.
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Hundreds of young children in Linden are building their home libraries, thanks to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a program that mails free books to children from birth through age five.
Linden Public Library was the first library in New Jersey to join the literacy initiative. Since launching the program, about 300 Linden children have enrolled and receive a new book in the mail each month at no cost to their families.
Among them is 3-year-old Finn Yamakaitis, who has been receiving books through the program for more than a year.
"It's always been instilled in me to read, and I've always loved to read," said Finn's father, Dan Yamakaitis. "So, I wanted to instill it in him too."
The Imagination Library was founded by the late country music icon Dolly Parton to encourage early childhood literacy.
"Before you get to school, it's important to lay the foundation to love books and love reading," said Theresa Villani, president of the Friends of Linden Library.
Library officials told News 12 that one of the program's biggest benefits is that the books belong to the children.
"Unlike library books, it's their book," said Joshua Melissari, director of the Linden Public Library. "It's something that they can really learn from, cherish, do what they will, keep it forever."
Villani said Parton's impact continues to be felt through the program's growing reach.
"Dolly did not create this to last her lifetime, but multiple lifetimes going into the future," she said.
