Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is all about inspiration and imagination. It was developed in 1995 by Dolly for her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee. Dolly wanted every preschool child to have their own library of books. The effort received numerous awards and extraordinary media attention which generated interest from across the country. After much thought, Dolly decided to offer her Imagination Library for replication in any community that would support it.
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the premier early childhood book gifting program in the world by mailing well over 90 million free books in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Currently, the program mails over one million specially selected, age-appropriate books monthly to registered children from birth to age five. Dolly’s vision was to create a lifelong love of reading, prepare children for school and inspire them to dream. Recent studies suggest participation in the Imagination Library program is positively and significantly associated with higher measures of early language and math development. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area is proud to partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to support early childhood literacy in the City of Winchester, the County of Frederick, and the County of Clarke, VA. As a program under the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, sponsorships finance the cost of books and mailing, conducts registration for eligible-aged children, and orders books monthly from the Dollywood Foundation.
How it Works
From the day they are born, children who are registered for the program receive a book every month until their fifth birthday. Preschoolers currently living in the City of Winchester, the County of Frederick, or the County of Clarke may enter the program at any time and begin receiving an age-appropriate book every month until their fifth birthday. Families with preschool children who move into the city are eligible to register and become part of the program. Participating families who move out of the city will exit the program at that time. If a family has more than one preschool-age child, each child may participate and receive his/her own library.
How to Enroll Your Child
Your child(ren) up to age 5 is eligible for this wonderful program! Complete the simple registration form at our office, any of the Handley Library System Libraries, or follow the link here to sign up online. Your child’s first book should arrive within eight to ten weeks. Contact our office at 540-536-1648 or email plam@lvwa.org if you have any questions.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a FREE GIFT to our children! All you have to do is read to your children!
Your child MUST reside in the City of Winchester, the County of Frederick, or the County of Clarke, VA in order to be eligible for these free books. However, you can check the Imagination Library website for a program in your area.
REGISTER YOUR CHILD HERE TODAY!
