CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Access to literacy is expanding once again for our youngest Lake County residents, thanks to a partnership between the Lake County Office of Education, the Lake County Literacy Task Force and St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.  

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake has agreed to sponsor babies born in their hospital through a literacy program run by the Lake County Office of Education.

This partnership will provide a one  year scholarship to enroll in the Imagination Library for the first 175 babies born in the Clearlake Hospital.

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.  

“Supporting the community through literacy, beginning with our youngest residents, is a great way to ensure that all children are successful students and productive members of Lake County,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook.  

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, 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.  

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 St., 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.