LEXINGTON, Ky. — Dolly Parton made a trip to Kentucky this week to celebrate the success of her Imagination Library program in the Commonwealth, which recently reached the milestone of getting books to children in every county.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate our statewide Imagination Library partnership today with Governor Andy Beshear, First Lady Britainy Beshear and our local program partners from across Kentucky. It warms my heart to know that every child from birth to age 5 across the state can register to receive the gift of a monthly Imagination Library book,” Parton said. “Together, we’re inspiring a love of reading that will last a lifetime.”
All children can receive one free book per month, from birth to age 5, ensuring they can build their own at-home library before starting kindergarten. Ohio is also in Parton’s nationwide program.
More than 20 years ago, Henderson County established the first Imagination Library program in Kentucky. Since then, more than 6 million books have been delivered to preschool-age children in every ZIP code in Kentucky.
In celebration of Parton’s visit, Beshear proclaimed August as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky Month in the commonwealth and named her a member of the Honorary Order of Kentucky Colonels.
First Lady Britainy Beshear presented Parton with a copy of First Dog Winnie’s new coloring book, “Winnie Goes on a Kentucky State Parks Adventure!” In return, Dolly gifted the governor and first lady with a copy of her children’s book “Coat of Many Colors,” a retelling of her classic autobiographical song first released in 1971.
“As parents, Britainy and I have seen first-hand how important early childhood education is as kids get ready for kindergarten and the rest of their lives,” said Beshear. “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is making a huge difference for kids in Kentucky and beyond, so they can spend time reading and learning with their families. We were so honored to have Dolly Parton herself with us here today to celebrate her legacy and the life-changing impact that books can have on a child’s future.”
The Imagination Library was created by county artist Dolly Parton in 1995, in honor of her father, who never learned to read, to make sure that every child in Sevier County, Tennessee, got an age-appropriate book, to children from infant until when five when they enter school. The books are free and available to all children, regardless of family income.
In 2000, Parton said she would expand the program to any place that would support it locally. The program expanded across the U.S. and into Canada, England and Ireland. There are nearly 4,000 kids in Lawrence County that get books from the program.
Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library provides a dollar for dollar funding match with each county that opens up the program to its residents. The Ohio General Assembly has committed $5 million to the library.
To sign up for the program, visit OhioImagination Library.org. There is no cost to the families and no deadline to register.