When the Optimist Club of Calgary agreed to sponsor the first year of a new book-gifting program for Stoney Nakoda youth, there was one condition that had to be met. Sign up 10 per cent of the eligible children in the First Nation.

This was a target both Sarah Birch, community outreach and program librarian at the Cochrane Public Library, and Rose Reid, Indigenous outreach specialist with the Marigold Library System, were eager to meet.

Now 45 Stoney Nakoda youth up to five years old will receive a free age-appropriate book in the mail from the acclaimed Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

Joining the library staff in January, Birch recognized there were several barriers for Stoney Nakoda youth to regularly enjoy library programming, such as storytime.

"That's when I discovered the Imagination Library and I realized it could be a wonderful fit."

For every child registered, the Imagination Library mails a free book to eligible youth. Even if there is more than one child registered in a household they all receive a book monthly.

There is a cost, though, of about $45 per year per child. Birch heard an interview on CBC about the Optimist Club and reached out to the Calgary chapter. The club was eager to help but wanted to make sure their $1,900 donation would be fully utilized and gave Birch a small time window to register participants. There are 450 Stoney Nakoda youth eligible for the program and the Optimists set a target of registering 10 per cent.

Birch recruited the help of Reid.

"We went there once a week all summer long and we were able to make connections with families, tell them about our library services, sign up people for library cards and sign up children for the Imagination Library," explains Birch.

"I was sure we could do it from the beginning," says Reid. "It was a slow start but we partnered with the Stoney Health Centre at the family camps. We went every week and interacted in all sorts of different ways to meet families. We were at the grand opening of the ParentLink and they've been great partners as well."

When the youth start receiving their books in the next month or so, Reid believes it will create additional interest. They would dearly love to see more youth participating if more funding becomes available. Those coming forward will be placed on a waiting list for now.

Fortunately, the Optimists have expressed an interest in continuing to support the program's needs.

"We see this as a continuing program and in that sense that we will continue to fund the program as funding needs come forward," says club president Michael DeNicola.

The Optimist Club of Calgary, one of two in the city, is in its 81st year of providing opportunities for youth. The international service club's motto is "Friend of Youth" and its goal is to help youth develop to their full potential.

The list of projects and organizations the Calgary chapter supports is long and varied. Music, performing arts, sports, facilities, school awards and scholarships are all supported by the club. Their most visible facility is the Optimist Athletic Park on Sacree Trail.

The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was founded in 1995 to ensure youth have access to quality books from birth until they begin school no matter their family income. It expanded to Canada in 2006 and also serves the United Kingdom, Australia and most recently Ireland.