It began with a newspaper article about a woman who had started an Imagination Library affiliate in our county.

I had learned that, due to the Purdy community’s lack of access to books, we qualified as a book desert, which greatly bothered me.

I researched the program and learned that children ages birth to 5 could receive a free book every month. However, children in Purdy were not eligible because there was not a local affiliate in the community. Someone needed to start an affiliate and raise the money necessary to pay for children in the program.

It would be an immense responsibility, but I felt that it was one that I needed to take on. I knew that, as the school librarian, I played an important role in the lives of the children in Purdy, and I felt that if I got books into the hands and homes of our youngest children in the community that I could help them be even more successful in school.

I worked with the Purdy R-2 School District to become one of the first school district affiliates in Missouri with myself serving as the community coordinator. I sent donation letters to businesses and networked with people who I felt would be supportive of the program. Within a few months, the Purdy administration, teachers, and community had funded our program for three years. I was so grateful and proud.

Our program grew because I reached out to families through school and personal connections. I constantly thought about new ways that I could reach children in the community.

When fellow librarians learned about our program’s success, they encouraged me to present at our state librarian’s conference. Last April, I presented to other librarians in the state, urging them to become involved in Imagination Library.

I started this school year excited. I was set to help begin a new affiliate in a neighboring community and brainstormed new ways to reach out to families.

In October, I received news that the state of Missouri was going to fully fund Imagination Library. But, they were doing so through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Missouri, not directly through the affiliates. I was unsure what this would look like, but I was hopeful.

Then, I received a letter that dissolved Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Purdy and relieved me of my duties as community coordinator. All of the affiliates in our state were dissolved and our duties were reassigned to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

I was devastated. The role I served was a volunteer position. It was never tied to my position as the school librarian. I truly did it because I wanted to help children have more access to books.

I worry that the changes that have occurred in the program will lower enrollment numbers in our local communities. I was a familiar face to many of our families. I assured them that the program was free and that there was no ill intention in asking for their information.

Our community was also invested in the program through donations. That is a tenant of the program that is now lost. Our tax dollars are being spent to fund the program now, but we are not making the conscious choice to donate to a program after learning about it. Awareness and understanding is then lost.

By Nov. 1, 2023, the Purdy program had 77 children enrolled and was responsible for adding 551 more books into the homes of children in our community. These numbers may seem insignificant to some, but for a community the size of Purdy, this is a notable achievement. I am so proud of the work that was done while I led the program.

To me, each of those children have a name and a story and their life has been enriched by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Purdy.

Regardless of how hurt I feel right now, I will forever support this program and its mission. It is my fervent hope that it is successful with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at the helm.

Michelle Hilburn is the president of the Cassville Area Friends of the Library and a librarian at Purdy schools. She may be reached at mhilburn@purdyk12. com.