New Reading Spaces in Ohio WIC Clinics

Written By Imagination Library

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)– As part of their continued efforts to inspire children to discover a love of reading, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine today held a pair of book readings at local Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program clinics in Hamilton and Lisbon.

These WIC clinics are among several across the state that are receiving new “reading spaces” for children. Developed by the Ohio Department of Health and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, the reading spaces are cozy, colorful areas stocked with books for kids to enjoy as their families spend time at the clinic.

“Books open up a world of possibilities for our children,” said Governor DeWine. “By connecting more Ohio children and families with our Imagination Library program, these WIC reading spaces will advance our work to help more kids unlock their imaginations, discover a love for reading, and will set them on the best path toward success as they enter Kindergarten and throughout life.”

Designed in the form of a tree, flower, or seed in the various WIC locations, the reading spaces take visual inspiration from the Imagination Library book The Very Hungry Caterpillar – the same book First Lady DeWine read to the young children in attendance for today’s events.

“We really enjoyed reading to the kids today, and we’re hopeful that these designated reading spaces will become quite popular with visitors,” said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine.  “We believe our partnership with the Ohio Department of Health and WIC will encourage more Ohio families to sign up their child for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio's monthly book delivery.”

Over the coming weeks, WIC reading spaces will be installed in the following locations:

  • Athens/Perry County WIC, 2541 Panther Dr. NE in New Lexington

  • Butler County WIC, 210 S. 2nd in Hamilton

  • Crawford County WIC, 1520 Isaac Beal Rd. in Bucyrus

  • Coshocton County WIC, 637 Chestnut St. in Coshocton

  • Cuyahoga County WIC, 6835 Broadway Ave. in Cleveland

  • Erie/Huron County WIC, 34 Executive Dr., Suite A in Norwalk

  • Guernsey County WIC, 326 Highland Ave. in Cambridge

  • Highland County WIC, 1487 N. High St., Business Suite 500 in Hillsboro

  • Hocking County WIC, 350 Ohio-664 in North Logan

  • Portage/Columbiana County WIC, 7876 Lincole Place in Lisbon

Imagination Library
Previous

Share the Gift of Reading
Next

First Lady DeWine Visits El Centro