By Rachel Nix, Building Kentucky
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is expanding throughout Kentucky.
The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) Office of Special Education and Early Learning (OSEEL) announced the statewide expansion of the famous musician’s program to inspire a love of reading in Kentucky kids.
The voluntary early childhood program gifts age-appropriate books to children monthly for free from infancy to age 5. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation has gifted well over 170 million free books to kids around the world. The Imagination Library mails more than 1.8 million high-quality books each month.
“Exposing a child to books and reading is significant to their success in academics and life,” said Kentucky Commissioner of Education Jason E. Glass. “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library puts books in the hands of children at a young age, opening the doors to possibilities. At KDE, we are excited to be a part of expanding the Imagination Library across Kentucky to reach more children, because all children should have access to books and doors that they can open.”
Imagination Library expansion in Kentucky
Thanks to the state funding, the program soon will be available to more Kentucky children than ever before. The goal is to eventually offer the program in every part of the state
- Focus on reaching more children and families to increase registration in existing Imagination Library Programs in the state.
- Find community partners to start new Imagination Library programs in Kentucky. These local partners are the heart of the program. They promote the program online and at in-person events, fundraise and enroll children who live within their geographical area. A local affiliate/partner must be a 501c3. Examples include businesses, school districts, service clubs, libraries and local foundations. To learn more about becoming a community partner, email Christy Crouse.
Learn more and enroll now by visiting imaginationlibrary.com/kentucky/ and continue to check as the program expands across the state.
