Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was launched in Sevier County, TN in 1995. Since then the program has expanded all across the United States, Canada, Great Britain and even across the world in Australia. The Imagination Library is a partnership between the Dolly Parton Foundation, United Way, local educators, libraries and other sponsors/funders. Children between the ages of newborn to 5 years old can register to be a part of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Enrolled children will receive a free, age-appropriate book mailed in the child’s name to their home address monthly.
Bryan Howard, Director of the London Public Library stated: “The importance of getting books into the hands of a child cannot be emphasized enough. Early exposure to reading helps children develop creativity, an advanced vocabulary, interest in different topics, and enhances a child’s concentration. The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an amazing, free program that gives all children and families the tools to do this.”
Children develop much of their capacity to learn in the first three years of life. Immersing a child in a print-rich home can be a stronger predictor of literacy and academic achievement than family income. However, in order to read with a child, books must be in the home. An alarming statistic reports that in low-income neighborhoods, there is only one age appropriate book for every 300 households.
