Save Imagination Library Mesa County!

Imagination Library Mesa County

Once upon a time in Mesa County, more than 3,700 children received a brand-new book in the mail every month—just for them, with their name on the label and magic inside every page. These books sparked giggles, snuggles, and bedtime adventures that helped build early literacy and a lifelong love of reading.

But now, the story is at risk of an unhappy ending.

Due to rising book costs, increased enrollment, and the loss of federal funding, United Way Mesa County has made the very difficult decision to end its sponsorship of the Imagination Library program.

Fruita Imagination Library article, Fruita Times, July 2006

Unless we act fast, the books will stop arriving. And for nearly half of participating families, these books are their child’s primary source of reading in the home.

But there’s hope—and it starts with you.

Imagination Library Colorado (ILCO) is determined to keep the pages turning for kids in Mesa County. But we can’t do it without your help.

Your donation to the Save Imagination Library Mesa County! campaign will directly fund the mailing of 23,000 books—enough to keep mailboxes full through the end of the year, uninterrupted. The State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood provide half of the funding of this program dropping the cost per book to $1.30. Every dollar raised goes only to books for Mesa County kids. Not admin. Not overhead. Just books.

One book. Every child. Every month. You make it possible.

Why It Matters

A recent Mesa County parent survey revealed:

• 93% said the program is helping prepare their child for kindergarten.
• Countless families shared stories of joy, growth, and cuddles sparked by these monthly deliveries.

“He has a strong connection to and excitement about books. I feel strongly that Imagination Library books have played a significant role in that.”

                                                     – Mesa County Parent

ILCO participants were 16-24% less likely to score "well below benchmark" on DIBELS, reducing the need for costly remedial reading support.

Benefits were seen broadly across student groups, with no significant differences for multilingual learners or children from low-income families. This increase is substantial, particularly given the low cost of ILCO implementation. This can set students on a positive reading trajectory and reduce the system, district, and school resources needed to make up early gaps.

Give Today, Grow a Reader for Life

Dolly Parton dreamed it, yet it's local individuals and foundations that raise the funds to make it happen. You make it real. Whether it’s $10 or $100, your gift helps write a better chapter for Mesa County kids—one book at a time.

Let’s keep the magic going. 

Donate now.   

Corporate Giving: Looking for a way for your corporation or foundation to support Imagination Library of Mesa County, click here!

Imagination Library Colorado

Imagination Library Colorado (ILCO) is a book gifting program that mails one new, developmentally appropriate book every month to 74,000+ Colorado children* from birth until they begin kindergarten. This program is offered at no cost to families thanks to our ILCO partnerships: half of the book cost is funded iby a community nonprofit in Colorado's 64 counties, and the other half is provided by the State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.