Montgomery, AL – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday kicked off the expansion across the state of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, during an official launch celebration. Dolly’s Imagination Library is dedicated to encouraging a love of reading through the giving of every month free books to babies and children up to the age of five.
Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Acting Secretary Dr. Jan Hume, elected officials, community leaders, educators, parents, and partners and the state’s youngest students were joined by Governor Ivey to start the state-wide program. Also, Dolly Parton made a virtual appearance at the ceremony.
The event was held during National Book Lovers Day, Governor Ivey started the celebration by recognizing the importance of literacy.
“No whatever a child becomes being, the ability to read fluently is crucial. It is no doubt that learning to read starts at the home. Parents are the first teachers we have in the end,” said Governor Ivey in her remarks. “It is vital to start reading to their children as only infants. We must also instill our children to read books at the earliest stage.”
In the beginning, Alabama announced its intention to be a part of Dolly’s Imagination Library during her 2023 Inaugural Address, and then following up on her promises with Executive Order 729 Governor Ivey continued her speech to announce the official statewide expansion of the book donation program.
“This program, which will be supported by the state and support from community members will ultimately ensure that every child in Alabama will receive books directly to their homes every month from the time they are born until they reach the age of five. Since I first announced the initiative in my inaugural speech in January, we’ve engaged with community partners across our state, with a few of who will be speaking to you in a minute,” continued Governor Ivey. “Our aim is to expand the program across all 67 counties and we’re on the way to getting there.”
As a state-wide program, the aim is to create local programs across every county, and develop new partnerships to in the funding and development of programs in the area. Local affiliates and program partners have to be 501c3 organizations, which means businesses, schools districts libraries, foundations in local areas, and other organizations.
At present, Alabama’s program includes 55 local program partners operating locally which cover portions of Alabama’s counties. Nearly 40,000 eligible children across Alabama are receiving free, high-quality books as part of these programs.
“I’m thrilled to with the announcement how the Imagination Library is coming to Alabama,” said Dolly Parton. “A number of wonderful people have been working to make the Imagination Library dream for Alabama to a reality, but I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Governor Kay Ivey for her leadership in bringing this dream to life.”
The Imagination Library of Alabama expansion will be focused on identifying community partners who can launch the new Imagination Library programs to reach more families and children, growing enrollment in the existing Imagination Library programs in the state.
“Thank for governor Kay Ivey for her continued commitment to early learning and for providing opportunities like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to ensure children in Alabama get off to a great beginning in their lives. We know that reading to children has a positive impact on the development of their brains, and so being able to offer the books at no cost for parents and children throughout the state is a blessing,” said Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Acting Secretary Dr. Jan Hume. “We will keep working until we can have Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in all 67 counties of Alabama.”
Governor Ivey ended her speech by expressing her confidence about Alabama students’ determination to read and learn. She acknowledged the impact of the Imagination Library will have for Alabama families, while also addressing the necessary support needed for its success.
“So whether you’re a school or non-profit I’m urging you to join Alabama in making available the Dolly Parton Imagination Library available for children ranging from birth to five in all corners of Alabama,” said Governor Ivey.
To learn more about becoming a community partner, contact Kahla Williams at kwilliams@imaginationlibrary.com.
To enroll in this program and learn more as it is expanded across the state, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Since its launch in 1995, Dolly’s Imagination Library has become the most renowned early childhood book-giving program worldwide. The main programme that is part of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation that has distributed more than 200 million free books across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. The Imagination Library mails more than 2.4 million age-appropriate, high-quality books every month to children ranging from infants to five. Dolly imagined creating a lifetime fascination with reading and inspiring children to dream more and learn More, Love More, more and be More(r).
The effect of the program has been extensively researched and the results suggest that there is a positive increase in the key early childhood literacy measures. Penguin Random House is the sole publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
