Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Leaves Lasting Impact on Ohio Children
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has made a lasting impact on children in Ohio, delivering millions of free books to homes and fostering a love of books and reading in young children.
Created by Parton’s Dollywood Foundation, the programme sends age-appropriate books to children, free of charge, from birth to age 5. It has had a strong effect in Ohio, where the programme was rolled out across the state in 2019.
As of March 12, 2025, over 20 million books have been sent to children throughout Ohio, according to the Imagination Library of Ohio. The programme is open to children in all 88 counties in Ohio.
Hamilton County had the most books received in the Cincinnati region with over 1.67 million books delivered. Butler County had 687,836 and Warren County had 432,972. A total of 337,047 books were distributed to Clermont, 83,464 books to Brown and 80,481 books to Clinton counties.
The programme has contributed to making books more accessible to families and provided children with regular opportunities to explore stories, language and new ideas at home.
Parton’s contribution to childhood literacy has also been recognised by Ohio. Former Governor Mike DeWine proclaimed August 9 to be Dolly Parton Day in 2022 in recognition of her contributions, including the Imagination Library.
Families can sign up for the programme on the website if their children are eligible. The first book is usually received within 8-10 weeks after registration and a new book is sent monthly until the child is 5 years old.
The books are more than gifts for many Ohio children. They have been a first step to reading, imagination and learning.
