Read SI Celebrates 2nd Birthday with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Event in Carterville
Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/09/2026
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location
Anne West Lindsey District Library
Categories
MARION, IL — [June 18, 2026] — Read SI, a regional literacy initiative for little learners, is
celebrating two years of delivering books to children across southern Illinois. To mark the
milestone, Read SI is hosting a free public birthday celebration in partnership with Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library. The event will take place on Thursday, July 9th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
at the Anne West Lindsey District Library in Carterville.
The celebration is specially designed for children from birth to kindergarten age. Attendees will
enjoy “Dolly pink” iced cookies provided by Larry’s House of Cakes, fun Dolly-themed photo
props, party favors, games, coloring sheets, and other kid-friendly activities.
A headline feature of the event includes live story time sessions hosted by guest storytellers Mark
Kiesling, who will read selections directly from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library collection. Story
times are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and again from 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
In between story times, families can participate in a special community meet-and-greet featuring
members of the Carterville Fire Department, Carterville Police Department, and the Anne West
Lindsey Library Board.
Read SI has successfully mailed over 200,000 books to local children to foster early childhood
literacy. Parents and guardians attending the event will have the opportunity to sign up eligible
children for the free book-gifting program on-site. Community members looking to support the
mission can also learn more about making donations to the program through the Southern Illinois
Community Foundation (SICF).
Event At-A-Glance
What: Read SI 2nd Birthday Celebration
When: Thursday, July 9th | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Anne West Lindsey District Library, Carterville, IL
Who: Open to the public; activities tailored for ages 0 through kindergarten
Admission: Free
About Read SI
Read SI is a literacy program dedicated to “Literacy for Little Learners” across southern Illinois. In
partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and made possible by the Southern Illinois
Community Foundation (SICF), the Southern Illinois Coalition for Children and Families (SICCF),
and several other agencies in the southern Illinois area, the initiative ensures young children
receive high-quality, age-appropriate books mailed directly to their homes at no cost to their
families