Dolly Parton’s program offers free books to children in the Philadelphia area.

The Imagination Library, a literacy initiative founded by Dolly Parton, has successfully delivered free monthly books to nearly 800 children in West Philadelphia. This program aims to instill a love of reading in young children by providing curated selections of literature to those in need. In Montgomery County, which includes areas like Norristown and Pottstown, around 3,500 children have benefited from this program since the start of 2023.

In light of the recent news regarding Parton’s passing, affiliates involved in her global literacy efforts expressed deep sorrow but stated their commitment to maintaining and possibly expanding the Imagination Library in Pennsylvania. Jennifer Leith, the executive director of the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC), confirmed that there will be no anticipated changes to the program despite the loss of its founder.

The Imagination Library, which Parton established in 1995 in Tennessee, operates by mailing deeply discounted books to families with children aged from birth to five years, provided that the parents or guardians sign up. Funding from governmental sources and nonprofit organizations covers the remaining costs, making the program accessible to families across various economic backgrounds.

Since its inception, the Dollywood Foundation has reported delivering over 300 million books to children in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. WePAC began the Imagination Library in Philadelphia with a single zip code—19104—in July 2024. Following this inaugural year, the program extended its reach to include additional zip codes, resulting in thousands of books being enjoyed by West Philadelphia children.

Eliza Brumbaugh, executive director of the Literacy Council of Norristown, emphasized that the program is open to participants regardless of their income level. There are calls from various stakeholders to see the initiative expanded statewide in Pennsylvania, similar to actions taken in Delaware. Legislative efforts are currently underway in both the Pennsylvania Senate and House to establish a state-level version of the Imagination Library.

Leith indicated interest in having Mayor Cherelle L. Parker or Governor Josh Shapiro pursue this idea, which would honor Dolly Parton’s legacy. In the past, Foundations, Inc., a national education nonprofit based in Mount Laurel, operated the Imagination Library in North Philadelphia, delivering approximately 27,000 books to children in a previously underserved area.

Through the commitment of these organizations and the foundation laid by Parton’s vision, the future of the Imagination Library appears promising as advocates work to ensure that every child has access to the joys of reading.