Dolly Parton brings Imagination Library to Estes Park

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has declared November as Family Literacy Month and announced the expansion of the famed Dolly Parton Imagination Library across the state.

“I am thrilled to announce the statewide launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library here in Colorado,” Polis said on Dec. 1. “Knowing how vital early childhood education is to the future of our children and our state, we couldn’t be more excited about the mission of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”

Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over a million free books each month to children around the world.

“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer,” said Parton. “The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”

Once a child is registered at https://imaginationlibrary.com/, they are eligible to receive a free book every month until they turn six years old. To date, there have been 1,921,027 children registered for the program and 170,824,458 total books gifted.

“We’re elated by this announcement,” said Estes Valley Library Director Claudine Perrault, who was tapped to review the request for proposal for Colorado to launch the Imagination Library program statewide. “We’ve been enthusiastic fans of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library project for a long time, and looking forward to seeing it shared in our valley. Countless studies have shown that getting books into the hands and homes of young children is one of the best investments in their future success. This is a win for Colorado and for Estes Park. It will expand upon a program we currently offer, which mails 100 free English or Spanish books to local preschoolers in their year before entering Kindergarten. Got a 4-year-old? Ask us, and we’ll get you signed up.”

That program is the Estes Grows Readers Program and along with Perrault, Estes Valley Library Early Literacy Librarian Melanie Kozlowski believes reading starts in the home and the local program is a great partner to the Imagination Library.

“We are thrilled with the news that the Imagination Library is being expanded throughout Colorado,” said Kozlowski.  “We have so much brain science that tells us that the daily habit of reading aloud to a child is one of the most important activities to help that child succeed in school and life. In the words of poet and children’s author Emily Buchwald: ‘Readers are made on the laps of their parents’. Providing families with books to read to their child is a fantastic investment in our children’s future. This program coincides nicely with the Estes Grows Readers initiative that was launched in 2021 that helps families prepare their child for Kindergarten.”

The Library of Congress awarded the Imagination Library with the $150,000 2021 David M. Rubenstein Prize for its work in delivering more than 160 million books to children around the world.

“Since 2014 when the Imagination Library received ‘best practice’ recognition from the Library of Congress Literacy Awards, the Dollywood Foundation has strategically positioned the Imagination Library for aggressive growth,” said to a release from the Library of Congress. “Although mailing the books to each child’s home is only one aspect of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, it is a remarkable feat that helps improve literacy on an international scale and creates special moments for children and families.”

The goal of the state-wide expansion is to make books available to children in every zip code in Colorado. The state previously had 30 programs covering only portions of its 64 counties.

“I’m so excited to be working with Governor Polis, the Department of Education, and our Colorado affiliate organization to bring my Imagination Library to more children and families across Colorado,” Parton said. “Together we can gift a love of reading that will last a lifetime.”

Previously, only four percent of eligible children in the state are receiving books through existing community-based Imagination Library programs.  That is set to change with the state-wide expansion.

“We thank all the visionary state leaders who made this happen. And of course, thank you to the legend, Dolly Parton,” said Perrault. “She’s a true champion for kids and families, and an inspiration to us.”

The cost to launch the program at local libraries will be pennies on the dollar.

“To say our library is excited about quality hardcover books mailed to every home with a child aged birth to five year, each month, would be an understatement,” said Perrault. “The library already has a donation to support the cost to participate in Dolly’s Imagination Library, once it launches next year.  This community is generous, awesome, and on board with early literacy, and the Library’s Friends & Foundation were really on the ball.”

For more information on the Library’s early literacy services and Kindergarten readiness, visit estesvalleylibrary.org/resources/earlychildhood/.

“I want to thank American icon Dolly Parton, who made such a powerful dream a reality and has changed the lives of countless children and families by nurturing early literacy,” said Gov. Polis. “I also want to thank those partners who have been working hard to bring this program to their communities, as well as Sen. Jeff Bridges, Senator Jack Tate and Colorado Department of Education for leading this expansion.”

Started in 1994, the celebration of National Family Literacy Month seeks to spread awareness and foster family literacy by encouraging parents and caregivers to read to their children. On Wednesday, the state adopted the national campaign and made it official here in Colorado.