Ever heard of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?
If not, just know that the program is pretty darned impressive. And that is because it sends new books each month to enrolled children across Indiana until the age of 5. That’s a lot of books going into a lot of young hands.
And, per most reports, it’s cost-effective, too. Unfortunately, according to the same reports, it has been cut out of the current budget bill proposed by the state’s legislature. The country music legend started the program to encourage youth literacy, and she is fighting for it to stay in place by calling on the Republican governor of the state, Mike Braun, to reconsider.
“We are hopeful that Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature will continue this vital investment by restoring the state’s funding match for local Imagination Library programs,” a rep for Parton said. “The beauty of the Imagination Library is that it unites us all — regardless of politics — because every child deserves the chance to dream big and succeed.”
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The Indy Star reported that the program “has been hailed as helping to raise Indiana’s child literacy ranking from 19th to 6th place nationwide.” The newspaper reported that Indiana was funding a 50% match of funds for the program with the United Way and community foundations financing the other 50%.
The Star reported that Parton’s program provides the books at a vastly discounted price, and that Rose Meissner, president of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, said the cost equates to about $1 per month per child for the state. The newspaper said the United Way allocated $1.6 million for the program in 2023-2024 and $2.5 million for 2024-2025. The site noted, too, that the program was slated to expand from 52 counties to all 92 counties.
“For the past two years, the State of Indiana has been a proud partner in bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to over 125,000 Hoosier children each month,” Parton’s rep said. “Together, we’ve helped nurture a love of reading, given families precious moments of joy, and built a foundation of lifelong learning.”
—Brian Linder, pennlive.com (TNS)
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