YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Ohio Governor's Imagination Library (OGIL) in partnership with Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) announced Wednesday that the Mahoning Valley has 51% of eligible children enrolled in the Imagination Library Program.

OGIL was launched by United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley in 2014. As of August 1, 2021, a total of 6,521 children are receiving free books regardless of their family's income.

"This achievement of 51% of the children across Mahoning County being served can be a tribute to the hard work of the United Way team and the cooperation among area educators, families and a great promotional effort community wide," said Kathy Mock, Community Impact Manager for United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.  

Children are eligible for a free age-appropriate book delivered to their homes from birth up until their fifth birthday upon registration to OGIL as long as they live in Mahoning County.

Mock says access to books at a young age is very important to a child's development. 

"If we can solve the problem of access to age-appropriate books, we have the opportunity to do something that can truly make a difference in our youngest children one book at a time," Mock said.

Families interested in signing their child up for the UGIL program can pick up a registration form from all branches of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County or text "BOOKS" to 313131.