About 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 Community Partners. The Imagination Library mails over 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five – at no cost to families. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More™.
inspire a love of reading
In 1995, inspired by her father’s inability to read or write, Dolly Parton launches the Imagination Library to foster an early love of reading and learning in her hometown of Sevier Co., TN. Since then, it has become the highest quality, most impactful, instantly recognized book gifting resource that policy makers, funders, early childhood organizations and families trust to inspire a love of reading
wholesale pricing
The Foundation covers overhead costs and negotiates wholesale pricing for the books, while local community partners fundraise to cover the cost of mailing and decided-upon wholesale book prices
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
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A premier, book-gifting program that mails free books to registered children every month from birth to age 5
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Operates in 5 countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland
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Enrolled children from birth receive 60 books by the time they graduate from the Imagination Library
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Book selections includes braille and bilingual book options
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Over 3 million free books are gifted each month to children around the world
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Over 200 million free books have been gifted since the program’s inception in 1995
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Operating programs in every U.S. state and 21 Statewide Programs
What They Do
The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
There are 63 local program partners located around the state.
In June of 2023, Montana was the 16th state to achieve statewide coverage.
Nearly 24,000 Montana children are enrolled in the program statewide.
More than 1,500 books are mailed to children in Beaverhead, Madison, Silverbow, Broadwater, Deer Lodge and Jefferson counties each month.
Learn how to get involved
Mailing Address: 111 E Main St, 2nd Floor Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone: 865-428-9606