This school year, the Knoch School District, in partnership with the South Butler Community Library, introduced a branch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

The Imagination Library sends a free book every month to the family of any child younger than 5 years old who signs up, regardless of that family’s income.

Within its first month of operation, hundreds of parents in the school have signed up. Already, out of an estimated 1,740 children younger than 5 who live in the district, 342 have been registered — just under 20% of the eligible population.

“We are excited to get books into the hands of young children to build a meaningful foundation for literacy,” said district superintendent David Foley. “Enrollment in the program and parents reading with their children will encourage a lifelong love for reading.”

Knoch’s program is open to families living in the ZIP codes 16056, 16023, 16055, 16053, 16002 and 16059. Parents can register their children either through the Imagination Library’s website, www.imaginationlibrary.com, or through a paper application, which can be obtained at the South Butler Community Library.

Once the application goes through, families can expect to receive their first book in four to six weeks. Once a child turns 5 years old and ages out of the program, the last book they receive is a special book entitled, “Look Out, Kindergarten, Here I Come!”

Knoch and South Butler Community Library have spent the past month promoting the new program at events such as Knoch’s Welcome Back event on Aug. 22, as well as Saxonburg’s Mingle on Main.

Part of the costs for Knoch’s Imagination Library program are being offset through donations from the Saxonburg Area Rotary, Bayer and other donors who preferred to remain anonymous, although expenses are expected to increase as more children sign up.