Imagination Library: See How Much We've Grown in Just One Year!
How the Imagination Library is Transforming Early Literacy in El Dorado County
The Imagination Library of El Dorado County has experienced remarkable growth in just one year, thanks to the generosity of donors, local businesses, and dedicated community members. This program is not just about delivering books—it’s about fostering a lifelong love of reading, preparing children for school, and closing literacy gaps across our region.
Every book placed in a child’s hands represents an opportunity: an opportunity to spark curiosity, strengthen family bonds, and build the foundation for academic success.
A Growing Program: Reaching More Children Every Year
Since it’s soft launch in March 2024, the Imagination Library set a goal to enroll between 1,500 and 2,225 children within its first two years. However, thanks to overwhelming community support, the program has already surpassed expectations, reaching 2,831 children by March 2025.
We’re Reaching: Enrollment by Age Group
Understanding our program’s reach helps us tailor books to the developmental needs of our youngest readers:
5 Years Old: 14%
4 Years Old: 23%
3 Years Old: 24%
2 Years Old: 23%
1 Year Old: 15%
Under 1 Year Old: 1%
By providing age-appropriate books, we ensure that children receive the right materials at the right time, helping them develop essential early literacy skills.
The Impact of Donor Contributions
Every donation to the Imagination Library directly helps us send books to children, sparking a lifelong love for reading. Donor funding covers the cost of postage, ensuring that every book reaches a child's home across El Dorado County, no matter where they live.
Key Facts:
In 2024, community support provided 4,545 books to 333 children.
By March 2025, we’ve already delivered 8,745 books to 583 children.
By the end of 2025, we aim to cover postage for 1,000 children, ensuring they continue receiving monthly, age-appropriate books.
Each book is more than just a story—it's an opportunity for bonding, a step toward kindergarten readiness, and a tool to close literacy gaps in our community. With continued donor support, we can ensure postage costs never stop a child from getting the books they need.
This success is made possible by the generosity of organizations like First 5 El Dorado, Friends of the Library of El Dorado County, El Dorado Community Foundation, El Dorado County Library, Pay It Forward Project, and United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra. Their support ensures that children across El Dorado County receive free, high-quality books every month, laying the foundation for future academic success.
Expanding Our Reach: Community Engagement and Bilingual Literacy
Through extensive outreach efforts, the Imagination Library has expanded its footprint, enrolling children in communities across El Dorado County:
El Dorado Hills – 21.7% (510 children)
Placerville – 17.7% (415 children)
South Lake Tahoe – 15.2% (356 children)
Additional communities such as Cameron Park, Pollock Pines, Georgetown, and Camino are also seeing steady growth.
In an effort to ensure literacy access for all families, the program has placed a special emphasis on bilingual literacy. Currently, 7.38% of enrolled children (173 as of October 2024) receive bilingual books in English and Spanish, making early reading resources more accessible to Latino and African American families who often face significant literacy barriers.
The Future of the Imagination Library
In just one year, we've exceeded expectations, enrolling 2,831 children and delivering nearly 30,000 books. Thanks to the incredible support of our donors and our community, we’re on track to reach 3,000 children by Year 3 and 5,000 by Year 5. Our long-term goal is to provide books to every eligible child in El Dorado County,.
With continued donations, strong partnerships, and matching funds from the state, we can ensure that more children discover the joy of reading, build strong literacy skills, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
How You Can Get Involved
The Imagination Library’s success relies on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and community organizations. Here’s how you can help:
📚 Enroll a Child
Do you have a child under five? Signing up is simple and free! Your child will receive a new, age-appropriate book every month—delivered straight to your home at no cost to you. Register today and start building a home library that fosters a love of reading!
📚 Spread the Word
Help us reach more families by sharing information about the Imagination Library. Whether it’s through social media, word-of-mouth, or local community groups, every conversation helps expand our impact.
📚 Become a Community Partner
Are you a business or organization looking to make a lasting impact on childhood literacy? Partnering with the Imagination Library is a powerful way to give back to your community.
Opportunities to support the program include:
Sponsoring a child – Just $15 provides a year’s worth of books for one child.
Hosting fundraising events – Rally your employees, customers, or supporters to contribute.
Providing in-kind donations – Support outreach efforts with marketing materials, event space, or other resources.
Helping spread awareness – Encourage families to enroll and businesses to contribute.
To learn more about partnership opportunities, contact melissa@marcellafoundation.org and let’s work together to transform early literacy in El Dorado County!
The success of the Imagination Library in El Dorado County is a direct result of the incredible support we receive from donors, local businesses, and community partners. Every donation, big or small, plays a crucial role in ensuring that children across our county have access to books that inspire a love of reading and set the foundation for a brighter future. Together, we are making a lasting impact on early literacy, one book at a time. As we continue to grow, we invite you to join us in this important mission. Whether through a donation, partnership, or simply spreading the word, your involvement makes all the difference. Let’s continue to work together to bring the joy of reading to every child in El Dorado County! Follow us on all our social media platforms for the latest updates!