Dolly Parton is known for two things: her country music and her HUGE love of childhood literacy. Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, she has helped set millions up for success by putting books into the hands and hearts of children across the world. Dolly is truly an American treasure!
Early literacy is one of Stark Library’s core missions. We know that children who grow up with books are inspired to dream more, do more, and be more! We focus on giving the children in our community the early literacy skills they need to succeed with programs like 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, SPARK Ohio—and now we’re a part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Through the program, kids in Stark County can receive a free book every month until they’re five years old. Kids may add up to 60 books in their personal library!
Dolly has been a champion of childhood literacy since 1995. She was inspired to start the program after watching her father struggle with illiteracy. The Imagination Library began in her home county and has grown to include participating communities within the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. So far, the program has gifted nearly 130 million books to more than 1,452,000 children since it began.
Did we mention it was completely free to sign up?
Stark County's Imagination Library is brought to the children of Stark County by Stark Library, United Way of Greater Stark County, and other area libraries. We are proud to invest in our children's future by putting books in the hands of children right here in our own community, where nearly half of the children are below the poverty level.
About the Governor’s Imagination Library: Ohio First Lady DeWine saw the impact the Imagination Library had in her own family and wanted every child in Ohio to have the same opportunity. In 2019 she established the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library, which matches funds to help offset the cost of the program for local affiliates.
