Airport News

GREEN, OH – Starting today, families traveling through Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) have a new opportunity to turn travel time into story time, thanks to a unique partnership between Akron-Canton Airport, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Stark County, managed by Stark Library. Young children can select a free book from the bookcase located in the children’s Step2 PlayPort in the main concourse of the Akron-Canton Airport to accompany their travels.

“Our goal is to always provide an exceptional travel experience for our guests,” states Renato Camacho, President & CEO of Akron-Canton Airport. “Offering books for families enhances our commitment to creating a welcoming and enriching environment while reinforcing our role as a community partner.”

This partnership encourages families to use travel time to engage in shared reading with young children and create meaningful learning opportunities. Research shows reading with children strengthens language skills, builds emotional connections, and fosters a lifelong love of books. Many of the books available in the bookcase are from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library’s collection and include several bilingual English/Spanish books. Books can be used in the Step2 PlayPort area of the airport or taken with the child to read while traveling.

“This partnership aligns with Stark Library’s mission to promote literacy beyond traditional library walls,” said Mary Ellen Icaza, Stark Library Executive Director. “Books have the power to transport young minds, just as airplanes transport people. By providing books at the Akron-Canton Airport, we help families turn travel time into story time while making the journey more enjoyable and meaningful.”

The bookcase also features information about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, including a cutout of the program’s founder, Dolly Parton. In Ohio, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is available to every child between birth and age five at no cost to families. After enrolling, a child will be mailed one high-quality, age-appropriate book each month until his or her fifth birthday.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Stark County is managed by Stark Library, as the library serves as the Local Program Partner. The Local Program Partner builds partnerships throughout the community to increase awareness and enrollment in the program, as well as fundraises to financially cover the cost of Stark County’s program. Stark Library and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio each pay for one-half (50%) of the monthly mailing cost of the program in Stark County.

This partnership represents a groundbreaking approach to supporting early childhood literacy, offering young travelers the unique opportunity to engage in reading while on the go.

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Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) connects travelers through nonstop and seamless, one-stop flights. As Northeast Ohio’s preferred airport, CAK ensures an easy and convenient airport experience. Keep up to date on all things CAK at akroncantonairport.com. Akron-Canton Airport, a better way to go.

Stark Library’s mission is to strengthen the community by advancing literacy, connecting people and encouraging exploration. As one of the 9 largest library systems in Ohio – and the county’s oldest library – Stark Library serves more than 240,000 Stark County residents through 10 locations, 4 mobile libraries (bookmobiles), and 3, 24/7 locker locations. Annually, Stark Library circulates nearly 1.9 million items from its 2.3 million item collection and provides access to an additional 16 million items from lending networks throughout the State of Ohio. For locations, hours or more information, visit StarkLibrary.org or call (330) 452-0665.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio mails one high-quality, age-appropriate book to children each month at no cost to families. Any child in Ohio between birth and age five can sign up at OhioImaginationLibrary.org.

Media Contact:    

Mary Ellen Icaza

Stark Library

330-452-0665