04/24/2026
The Marcus P Beebe Memorial Library is proud to be partners with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to promote early literacy for Edmunds County. In 2024, one in seven children under the age of five in the US received a book in the mail each month. In 2025, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library celebrated 30 years and reached the 300 millionth book gifted milestone. Studies have shown that after just 10 books, children in the program were at least four times more likely to demonstrate stronger emerging literacy skills.
From August 2020 to January 2026, we have had 5592 books distributed to the children in Edmunds County. Each month children, ages birth to five, have received a FREE book. Their last book is mailed the month of their fifth birthday.
The zip code areas covered in Edmunds County are; Mina 57451, Ipswich 57451, Bowdle 57428, Roscoe, 57471, and Hosmer 57478. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, or guardians living in the listed zip code areas may register a child and have the books mailed to them. Books can also be picked up at the Marcus P Beebe Memorial Library.
Registration can be done at the Marcus P Beebe Memorial Library or thru the library web page: http//ipswichsd.yoursdlibrary.org-bottom of the page. Information needed is: child’s first and last name, child’s birthdate; parent’s full name, cell phone, email and mailing address. Parents will be sent a welcome email confirming the registration. The first book should arrive within two months.
Funding for the postage to mail each book has been paid for by the Stepanie Miller-Davis Grant, the Ipswich Foundation Grant and the library budget. The current cost of postage is $2.60 per child per month. All other costs are covered by the Dolly Parton Foundation. If you would like to partner with the library or have any questions, please contact Cindy Percy at 605-426-6707 or Deb Gillick at 605-216-2958. Donations may be dropped off at the Marcus P Beebe Memorial Library or mailed to PO Box 304, Ipswich, SD 57451.
