It is with a heavy heart that we must inform you, Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area is no longer the local affiliate for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in Clarke County, Frederick County, and the City of Winchester.
What does this mean for enrolled families?
The books you receive in April will be the final books you receive until a new local affiliate is identified. If a new local affiliate can be onboarded within 6 months, you will not need to re-enroll.
How does the Imagination Library work?
Books are 100% free to enrolled children.
The Imagination Library negotiates wholesale pricing for the books.
The Local Affiliates (LVWA) shoulders the responsibility of covering the cost of the books, the shipping fees, and the staff to administrate the program in the community.
In 2025, the cost per child increased from $2.20 to $2.60 per month.
Currently, over 2,500 children are enrolled in Clarke County, Frederick County, and the City of Winchester. This total cost for the only books and shipping is approximately $6,500 per month. In addition to the internal cost of administrating the program, LVWA is presently responsible for 50% of this cost and the Commonwealth of Virginia currently provides the other 50% as a funding match. This legislation is subject to bi-annual review and is currently secured for Fiscal Year 2026.
LVWA spends approximately $3,500 each month ($42,000 per year) to sustain the program. Although many local businesses have expressed support for the Imagination Library, their support alone is not enough to sustain the rising costs of the program which increase as more children are added to the roster.
When will there be a new local affiliate?
The Dollywood Foundation is working to identify a new local affiliate for the program. We sincerely hope this is only a brief hiatus and that the service will be available again soon through a new local affiliate. Local Affiliates can be businesses, school districts, small or large organizations, or simply individuals who share in the mission and purpose of the Imagination Library.
What can families do?
If you love Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, make your voice heard! You can take action by advocating for continued support from the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as letting your local elected officials know how much the program means to you and your family. The more vocal Imagination Library families are, the more likely our community will work together to find a new local affiliate.
Literacy Volunteers offers other free resources you can access during this time. You can read digital children’s books in both English and Spanish through BookSmart, a free app available for download on your mobile device. Winchester Little Libraries are also available throughout the City of Winchester. To find one near you, check our map.
It has been our honor to serve you and your family through this program. Over the last three years, nearly 60,000 books have been distributed to children ages birth to five in Clarke County, Frederick County, and the City of Winchester. Over 1,000 local children have graduated from the library on their 5th birthday. As Dolly Parton likes to say, “You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children.”
Sincerely,
Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area