For Immediate Release – Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Contact: Nick Martin

Launch of Telehealth Kiosk and Device Loaning Initiative Pilot at Delaware Libraries

(Seaford, DE) Delaware Libraries announced the launch of the Telehealth Kiosk and Device Loaning Initiative at the Seaford District Library on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. In this pilot, kiosks have been set up at Seaford, Laurel, and Milford libraries to increase access to health and social services for Delawareans. These kiosks are designed to provide a solution for Delawareans who need privacy and high-speed Internet access for telehealth visits, job interviews, legal appointments, and more. The device loaning initiative features the deployment of hundreds of Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots at public libraries throughout the state. Devices are loaned for a week at a time.

Susan Campbell, Delaware Telehealth Coalition Director, said, “Making healthcare and social services more accessible for Delaware residents, that is what this project will accomplish. There is great potential here for the libraries to be joined by other key stakeholders such as nonprofit agencies and community centers to create community partnerships and build on this model.”

“Delawareans are reaping the benefits of the statewide library technology infrastructure,’ said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian, ‘The telehealth initiative is the latest service that is now possible through Delaware Libraries!”

Nick Martin, Emerging Tech & Telehealth Consultant for the Delaware Division of Libraries, stated, “This project started back in 2018 when I came on board as an AmeriCorps VISTA focused on emerging technology. After talking with community leaders and library managers, it was clear that access to quality healthcare, regardless of location, should be the focus of my work. This project is possible because Delaware Libraries have a history of strong partnerships with the public and private sector, coupled with the amazing support from several funders. I am proud to say this is the first statewide library-led telehealth initiative in the country, and it is only fitting that Delaware, the First State, be the first do this.”

This project is funded by Barclays US Consumer Bank, Delaware Community Foundation, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Crystal Trust Foundation, Discover Bank, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, Longwood Foundation, and Welfare Foundation.

For more information:

• GetConnected.DelawareLibraries.org | #GetConnectedDE
• Photos
• PSA Video

About:
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/workshops, community partnerships, and more.

Opportunities

Delaware Libraries is seeking applicants for TWENTY (20) AmeriCorps Summer Associate VISTAs, Positions start June 14, 2021 for 10 weeks

Essential Needs Summer Associates
Join our Social Innovation team this summer as an Essential Needs Summer Associate. Libraries are actively involved in helping people every day and are often stretched to meet the needs, even with our partners. Summer associates will be actively involved in listening to patrons and helping them with their various needs. The pandemic has made unemployment its own crisis- people need our help with resumes, job applications, unemployment, health insurance and much more. This means helping people with digital literacy as well as referring them to resources for other essential needs. Some of the libraries have a Read & Feed program for children as well as social workers and telehealth kiosks on site. An excellent training and great experience await you!

House Lights Summer Associates
Use your creative talents to design and lead a community service arts project. Be a part of the House Lights outreach team- work with fellow artists and community residents to understand and create a community profile with a focus on the past year that informs an artistic installation developed in partnership with the community. House Lights Summer Associates will develop a series of community art projects, including at least one visual installation and one performance. Plays, skits, music could all be part of the mix. This is a rare opportunity to hone your craft and learn to apply it in service to the community. This project is a collaboration with House Lights, LLC, Delaware State University and Delaware Libraries.

Apply: my.americorps.gov

In return for their service-
AmeriCorps VISTA members receive a modest living allowance during their service, and have the option of receiving a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or post-service stipend after completing their service.

Watch:
http://tinyurl.com/h8wu9od & https://youtu.be/QgdRkzLKlPM

Print a Copy: VISTA Summer Associates 2021 PDF

All babies born at Bayhealth to receive first Imagination Library book

WILMINGTON, Del.— Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Libraries announced on Wednesday that Bayhealth has partnered with Dover and Milford Public Libraries to ensure all babies born at Bayhealth Hospitals, as well as any eligible patients of Bayhealth Pediatrics in Milford, are registered for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

This partnership is in support of Governor John Carney’s statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through Delaware’s public libraries. Babies and children who are enrolled in the free Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program receive one new book in the mail each month from birth until their fifth birthday. This helps families create a personal library of up to 60 books at no cost to them, with the goal of establishing a child’s early reading experience and habits. Over 13,000 Delaware children from birth to age five receive a new book in the mail every month.

“One of the most important things we can do to improve childhood literacy is to give our children access to books, especially during this challenging time,” said Governor Carney. “The Imagination Library program is also an important component of the First Chance Delaware initiative for children, led by my wife Tracey, to promote learning readiness through literacy and parent-child engagement. Thank you to Bayhealth, Dover and Milford Public Libraries, and all of our partners for your work on this important effort.”

Bayhealth joins Beebe Healthcare, which was the first hospital to help expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. In October 2020, Beebe Healthcare partnered with Lewes Public Library to enroll babies born at their facilities in the program.

“Bayhealth is a great addition to our Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library partners,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. “We hope all of our birth hospitals ultimately will be able to implement similar registration programs. Interactive early language exposure is so critical to brain development and to setting kids up for success.”

“Promoting early language skills improves overall literacy and builds strong reading habits. One of the most important things a parent can do to help their child succeed later in school–and in life–is to read to them. We are excited to join this important initiative and to offer this program to all Bayhealth babies as well as any patient of Bayhealth Pediatrics who is under age 5 and not already registered,” said Bayhealth Pediatrician Colleen Allorto, DO.

At Bayhealth Hospital, Kent and Sussex Campuses, new babies and their families are registered for the program and given their first Imagination Library book when they are discharged from the hospital. The first family to receive the book and be registered at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus was James Hamilton, son of Emilie and Robert Hamilton. The first family to receive the book and be registered at Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus was Phoenix Rose Baisch, daughter of Arynn Jones and George Baisch. At Bayhealth Pediatrics, doctors and nurses educate parents of eligible children about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program and assist with getting them registered as needed.

“The Imagination Library is offered internationally through the Dollywood Foundation and is managed for Delaware by the Division of Libraries. It’s a natural fit for our libraries to partner with the community hospitals to facilitate Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Early literacy is one of our core missions,” says Dr. Annie Norman, Director of the Delaware Division of Libraries.

Information and registration are available online through Delaware Libraries. Books are selected by a national panel of early childhood literacy experts who review hundreds of children’s books each year and choose those that best fit the needs of children as they learn and grow.

“On a personal note, I loved reading to my children every night and want all families to have that opportunity to stimulate their child’s mind,” said Dr. Allorto. “Thank you to all the nurses, pediatricians, librarians, and the Dollywood Foundation for helping to bridge the gap on literary success.”

###

All babies born at Beebe Healthcare to receive first Imagination Library book

WILMINGTON, Del. – Beebe Healthcare and Lewes Public Library are partnering to ensure that all babies born at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes are registered for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.  The families will be presented with the first Imagination Library book before discharge from the hospital.  The first family to receive the book at Beebe Healthcare is Spencer Robert Heslep (baby), Stephanie Clavijo (mom) and Robert Heslep (dad).

“Beebe Healthcare is proud to be the first healthcare system in the First State to provide the first book to babies born at our Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus,” said Tom Protack, President of Beebe Medical Foundation. “Studies show that early childhood literacy can be tied to better health and wellness later in life, and our donors want to support Beebe Healthcare in this effort.”

In August 2020, Governor John Carney announced the expansion statewide of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through Delaware’s public libraries.  Children whose parents enroll them with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library receive one new book in the mail each month from birth until the child’s fifth birthday, at no cost to the family, creating a personal library of as many as 60 books that can help form the foundation of a child’s early reading experience. Information and registration are available online through Delaware Libraries.  Books are selected by a national panel of early childhood literacy experts who review hundreds of children’s books each year and choose those that best fit the needs of children as they learn and grow.

“A healthy reading habit motivates, inspires and encourages creativity among children and adults alike,” said Governor Carney. “One of the most important things we can do to improve childhood literacy is to give our children access to books, especially during this challenging time. The Imagination Library program is also an important component of the First Chance Delaware initiative for children, led by First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. The mission of First Chance Delaware includes promoting learning readiness through literacy and parent-child engagement. Thank you to Beebe Healthcare, Lewes Public Library, and all of our partners for your work on this important effort to improve literacy in our state.”

This new hospital initiative is a team effort.  Imagination Library is offered internationally through the Dollywood Foundation and is managed for Delaware by the Division of Libraries. Beebe pediatricians and nurses advocate and facilitate registration for the program with new parents, and the Beebe Medical Foundation provides the first book and welcome bags, and Lewes Public Library registers the newborns in the Imagination Library database.

“Amazing things can happen when community partnerships come together. We’re so proud to offer this service to all of the Beebe Babies. Thank you to the donors who made this possible, along with the Beebe care team that will be delivering the first books, and to the library staff who will make sure these newborns receive the Imagination Library books each month for five years,” said David A. Tam, MD, MBA, FACHE, President & CEO, Beebe Healthcare.

“It’s a natural fit for libraries to facilitate Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. After all, early literacy is one of our core missions,” said Jennifer Noonan, Children’s Librarian at Lewes Public Library, who first initiated Imagination Library within the Cape Henlopen School District in 2018. “Getting books into the hands of children and their families is of crucial importance, and the earlier we can do it, the better.”

According to literacy statistics compiled by Begin to Read, two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of the 4^th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. Improving someone’s literacy reduces their chance of dropping out of school, of being incarcerated, of experiencing teenage pregnancy, and of living in poverty.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends caregivers read to their children from birth, because the more words babies hear, the better their literacy, vocabulary, and reading comprehension will be in the future. For public libraries across Delaware, the Imagination Library program serves as a springboard for children and parents to engage with their local libraries, participate in library programming and take advantage of the many resources libraries have to offer.

###

Free, high-quality children’s books now available to families across Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney today joined American icon Dolly Parton to announce the statewide expansion of her namesake Imagination Library book gifting program and to encourage parents of young children across Delaware to participate.

Watch announcement video on YouTube or Facebook.

“I am so excited to be working with Governor and First Lady Carney to bring my Imagination Library to children and families across Delaware!” said Ms. Parton. “It takes visionary leaders to make this possible, and I can’t thank them enough. It is such an important time to share the gift of books and reading with as many children as we can, and I know Delaware families will love receiving a specially selected book in the mail each month.”

Children whose parents enroll them with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through Delaware libraries receive one new book in the mail each month from birth until the child’s fifth birthday at no cost to the family, creating a personal library of as many as 60 books that can help form the foundation of a child’s early reading experience. Information and registration are available online through the Delaware Division of Libraries.

Books are selected by a national panel of early childhood literacy experts who review hundreds of children’s books each year and choose those that best fit the needs of children as they learn and grow.

“A healthy reading habit motivates, inspires and encourages creativity among children and adults alike,” said Governor Carney. “One of the most important things we can do to improve childhood literacy is to give our children access to books, especially during this challenging time. It’s a simple but powerful idea. That’s why Delaware is proud to partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to improve literacy in our state. I want to thank our state librarian, Annie Norman, and my wife, Tracey, for spearheading this important effort in Delaware.”

Governor Carney announced a pilot launch of the Imagination Library program in five Delaware school districts in his 2020 State of the State address. Beginning in February, the Division of Libraries partnered with 13 local public libraries to make the program available to families within the pilot districts. So far, more than 3,800 children have been enrolled in the program and received more than 16,000 books.

The Imagination Library program is also an important component of the First Chance Delaware initiative for children, led by First Lady Carney. The mission of First Chance Delaware includes promoting learning readiness through literacy and parent-child engagement.

“It’s a great privilege for me to serve as the honorary chair of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in Delaware,” said First Lady Carney. “The quantity and quality of early language experience, starting at birth, correlates to children’s academic success at ages nine and 10—the target of our state’s grade-level reading campaign—which then correlates to the likelihood of high-school graduation, which correlates to virtually every positive life outcome from then on. Expanding the Imagination Library program in Delaware is a great investment in our families and in our future.”

For public libraries across Delaware, the Imagination Library program will serve as a springboard for children and parents to engage with their local libraries, participate in library programming and take advantage of the many resources libraries have to offer.

“It’s never too early to start reading to children,” said Delaware State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman. “Kids who read succeed! Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library helps develop the reading and library habit, a foundation for success throughout life.”

Parents who enrolled their children with the Imagination Library earlier this year through pilot school districts have already reported positive results, especially in light of the changes to daily lives and routines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The books we have received have helped a lot with his vocabulary and his ability to express himself,” said Lewes mom Ashely Durden about her son Quentin, who has been enrolled in the Imagination Library Program for the last two years. “Thank you for bringing reading to everyone in our district and our state; it’s a really great resource to get new books to children at a very young age.”

###