FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 6, 2025
Contact:
Kate Gonsalves, (503) 428-7292
delc.media@delc.oregon.gov
Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Celebrates Full Statewide Access to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
The Imagination Library of Oregon is now available across all 36 counties and zip codes
SALEM, ORE. – The Imagination Library of Oregon welcomed the Lower Umpqua Library in Reedsport as the 57th Local Program Partner, making it possible for families in Reedsport and Gardiner to register children under 5 to receive free books by mail each month. To make this coverage possible, the Lower Umpqua Library partnered with the Reedsport Rotary Foundation and was funded by a generous grant from the Oregon Community Foundation.
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library isn’t just about books – it’s about fostering relationships between caring adults and children that spark the joy of reading at an early age,” Governor Tina Kotek emphasized. “This program is essential to improve our literacy outcomes and helps make sure every Oregon student, regardless of where they live, has the opportunity to develop a love of reading before they ever step into a classroom.”
The Imagination Library is a book gifting program developed by The Dollywood Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Dolly Parton. Since launching in 1995, the Imagination Library has become the preeminent, international early childhood literacy program. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by mailing books each month to children (0-5 yrs. old), free of charge to families, through funding shared by Dolly, the State of Oregon, and local community partnerships.
“This is an incredible milestone. The goal of the statewide expansion was to ensure that children ages 0-5 in every zip code in Oregon have access to books. With the addition of Reedsport, that goal has been achieved,” said DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee. “By expanding the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we’re helping more young children across the state build early literacy skills and develop a lifelong love of reading – no matter where they live or what their background may be.”
During the 2023 legislative session, under Senate Bill 5506, $1.7 million was appropriated to DELC to help administer and expand the program statewide. Today, the program is already having a significant reach and impact. Currently, 65,000 Oregonian children are enrolled in the Imagination Library, which translates to approximately 30% of all children under the age of five.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to fall in love with reading, no matter their zip code or family income,” said Majority Leader Ben Bowman, who successfully championed the library going statewide. “The Imagination Library is one of the most effective tools we have to close early literacy gaps and invest in Oregon’s future.”
Primary caregivers of children ages 0-5 can sign up to receive a new book each month by mail at no cost to families. Children can be registered as early as birth and will receive books monthly until their 5th birthday month. “It’s a wonderful way for families to build routines and cherished memories together,” said Imagination Library of Oregon, Community Engagement Coordinator, Kaylee Chrystal.
To learn more about the Imagination Library, or to enroll your child, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com/oregon. To view Dolly Parton’s video remarks from the Oregon launch, please visit the DELC website.
About the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care
The Department of Early Learning and Care’s mission is to foster coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals. More information about DELC is available at Oregon.gov/DELC. You can also connect with DELC on Facebook or sign up for news alerts and updates.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Community Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five – at no cost to families. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More®.
The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.