A program providing Far West infants and toddlers with a free book a month has the potential to lift childhood literacy and help set the region’s young people on the path to success.

President of the Law Society of NSW Brett McGrath has praised the impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library during a Rhyme Time session at the Broken Hill City Library.

“I’ve had the honour of five years of active involvement with United Way Australia (UWA), the charity which delivers the Imagination Library in Australia. The simple act of providing a free high-quality, age-appropriate book a month for every baby until they turn five has the potential to unlock brighter futures for those involved,” Mr McGrath said.

“Lawyers who work on the coal face in criminal law, family law and the child protection system often see the results of poor literacy, which can lead to poor educational, employment and social outcomes, including contact with the criminal justice system.”

The Imagination Library has operated in Broken Hill and the Central Darling Shire since January 2022 and presently provides free books for 419 children in Broken Hill, as far afield as White Cliffs and other Far West communities.

Mr McGrath said his decision to back UWA as his President’s Charity for 2024 was reinforced recently by academic research into its Imagination Library program in Tamworth.

The Macquarie University research found ‘improved emerging language and literacy skills’ in three-year-old children when they are read to every day or more. Three quarters of the participating children at this age are requesting daily reading sessions.

“While not many three-year-olds would declare they want to grow up to be lawyers, developing an early love for reading and learning can open the door to a greater range of fulfilling career opportunities later in life,” Mr McGrath said.

“I commend Broken Hill Council and Central Darling communities for supporting the Imagination Library. I encourage local governments and communities across NSW to embrace this innovative program.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library operates in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland and Australia having gifted around 230 million books internationally and approximately one million books in Australia alone.

A summary of the research into the benefits of the Imagination Library delivered in Tamworth can be found here. View the President’s Charity video here; download it here. Donations to UWA can be made here.

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