Dolly Parton's
Imagination Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Program Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to enrolled children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More®.
The program has been widely researched and results demonstrate the positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Cocke County
When the Imagination Library in Cocke County began it was managed and financed by Cocke County Government. In 1995 The Cocke County Education System assumed the responsibility and financing of Imagination Library. A county school librarian was assigned the responsibility for enrolling and getting the reports of Imagination Library and on her retirement in 2000 took the paper work, etc. to do at her home to continue. In 2001 the Cocke County Education assumed financial responsibility which amounts to $17,000.00 to $18,000.00 per year in addition to supplemented funds contributed by the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation.
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We average 13,000 to 14,000 children enrolled each year. When Imagination began the cost was $12.00 per child per year.
For many years the post offices across the areas would put books that could not be delivered in a box and could be picked up to get them to children who had missed a book, didn’t get a book because of their enrollment dates. Those books also made nice decorations for the yearly banquet, some are in doctor’s offices, libraries, used in early education programs, and some preschool facilities. A couple of years ago the post offices across the land ended this opportunity for us.
The last of the month all local groups must get their reports into the Books for Children. They are then sent to the book seller and gotten out to the individual children. They are processed during the month. A child registered in May books will be processed during June and reach the child in July. It is important for parents to make changes quickly.
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Many hospitals register newborns or provide a form for the parent to register. Parents can also register their child on line and have access to making any changes in address, that information goes to the local administration for an address and other information check. When changes are made the information is sent to the local administrator to check address and other information, approve it and the child is all set for five years. The child will receive a book about kindergarten, school or other encouragement the month of their fifth birthday.