The Imagination Library program in Winkler saw a $9,000 boost in funding this weekend.

Country and rock and rock n' roll fans flocked to the P.W Enns Centennial Concert hall Friday and Saturday night for the A Little Bit Of Country, A Little Bit Of Rock 'N Roll concerts, featuring Ed Wayne and the North Border Band; The Pylons, Jim Dyck, and Wendy Gayle.

"We so appreciate the community support," Co-Organizer Joyce Sawatzky says.

She notes they had nearly 300 people the Friday night concert, and closer to 200 on Saturday.

"Attendance was great, it felt like a full house," she says. "It was a really awesome time."

With tributes to a number of country legends, none were more fitting than Gayle's tribute of Dolly Parton.

Parton originally started the Imagination Library in her home state of Tennessee. It is now exploded in popularity around the world based on its impact on children's literacy.

Every month, 750 free books are sent to homes in Winkler as part of the Winkler Imagination Library, helping reverse some of the high illiteracy rates in the city.

As a librarian at the Winkler Elementary School, Winkler Imagination Library Organizer Joyce Sawatzky says excitement surrounding literacy has grown since the program began.

The monthly book deliveries help grow children's personal libraries before they enter school.

"Those children are already light years ahead when they come to Kindergarten," she says. "We've seen too many kids that come to Kindergarten and have never owned a book because they come from a history of illiteracy... that is our driving force behind the Winkler Imagination Library, we want to get books into the hands of kids."

Sawatzky notes research suggests the earlier children start looking at books, the better their chances of learning to read when they enter school.

The Winkler Imagination Library wait list is currently around three months.

However, costs are on-going to pay for postage for the growing number of book deliveries.