FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2002
FY02-45
ORAU Offering Free Books to Oak Ridge Preschoolers
OAK RIDGE, TENN -- In the spring of 2001, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) partnered with the Dollywood Foundation to offer the Imagination Library to children in three Anderson County communities: Andersonville, Briceville, and Lake City. Today, ORAU President Ron Townsend announced that the program will be expanded to include all children one month to five years old living in Oak Ridge.
“What better way to advance education than to promote literacy and imagination in preschool children in our community,” said Townsend. The Imagination Library program provides one book per month to preschool-age children living in these four communities, and all expenses are covered by ORAU.
Since its inception ORAU’s program has enrolled more than 250 children in Anderson County and distributed more than 2,000 books. Each child’s first book is the classic “The Little Engine That Could.” The child then receives one hardcover, age-appropriate book free each month until he or she reaches the age of five. A committee of parents, educators, child development specialists, publishers, and university professors help choose the books for each age group.
“When we began to study the statistics and were reminded how important reading to a young child can be, we had no doubt that we wanted to be a part of this program and continue to expand it in Anderson County,” said Townsend. “For years ORAU has offered educational enrichment programs for university students, faculty and professionals, but this is a unique way to influence the future success of children in Anderson County.”
For more information on the program or to obtain a registration form, contact ORAU directly by calling 576-3300 or e-mailing April Hackler at hacklera@orau.gov. Registration forms will also be available at the Oak Ridge Public Library.
ORAU is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 86 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies, and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.