Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Comes to Maine

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has officially come to Maine.

The Imagination Library — first founded by Parton in 1995 — “is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income.”

To date, the Imagination Library has given more than two-hundred million books to young children around the world.

During an event today at the Bangor Public Library, Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced the program’s recent expansion and played a pre-recorded video from Parton.

“My mother introduced me to the library, encouraged me to read books of every kind, and instilled in me a lifelong love of reading,” Gov. Mills said. “I’m thrilled to help expand the Dolly Parton Imagination Library across our state so that thousands of Maine children can strengthen their reading skills and learn to love reading.”

“I thank the one-and-only Dolly Parton for working with my Administration to bring this important program to Maine,” Mills said.

“Maine State Library is excited to facilitate the expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Maine,” Maine State Librarian Lori Fisher said. “Early literacy opportunities are vital to child development, and we are pleased to work with the current affiliates and the Dollywood Foundation to engage new affiliates so that the program can expand to all counties in Maine over the next few years.”

Click Here to Read Gov. Mills’ Full Press Release

“I am so happy to announce that Maine will soon offer My Imagination Library to every child in the state from birth to age five,” Parton said in the personalized video. “Is that not exciting?”

“Now we have plenty of work ahead, but I’m thrilled that we’ll be working with Lori Fischer and her state library to ensure that every young child in Maine has access to books early in life,” Parton said.

“So happy reading Maine,” Parton concluded, “and remember that I will always love you!”

As part of last year’s state budget, Maine lawmakers approved a $200,000 line item to fund the program’s administration by the Maine State Library.

The Dollywood Foundation and the Maine State Library are collaborating to develop and execute a strategy to work with local libraries, community non-profits, the Maine Department of Education, and school systems to expand the program’s reach within the state in the coming years.

As of now, more than 4,500 children are eligible to receive free books through twelve local partners spread across Maine.

Although the goal is to eventually make the Imagination Library available to all children in Maine, the Dollywood Foundation and the Maine State Library have an immediate goal of making the program available to more than 60,000 children across the state — or 65% of the eligible population.

One in ten children under the age of five in the United States receives books from the Imagination Library.

Parton’s Imagination Library is currently available in several countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom.