United Way of South Central Indiana is excited to bring
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
to Greene, Lawrence, Orange, and Owen counties!
Do you remember your favorite bedtime story as a kid? Books are so important in early childhood – they create memories, spark imagination, and strengthen reading skills into adulthood.
It sounds almost too simple to be true, but when you read regularly with your children during their first years, you are giving them the biggest boost toward a successful education they will ever get!
Sign your child up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and they will receive a free book each month until they turn 5 years old!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library makes reading exciting and fun for your children! Each month a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in your child’s name directly to your home, with no cost or obligation to your family. It is a FREE GIFT, made possible by generous donations to United Way of South Central Indiana.
I want to:
Enrolling your child in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is easy and free!
Simply visit our enrollment page and sign up your child if you live in Greene, Lawrence, Orange, or Owen counties.
Please allow eight to twelve weeks for your little one's first book to arrive. Subsequent books will arrive monthly.
Families in Monroe County can sign-up for the Imagination Library through Monroe Smart Start by clicking here.
The success of the Imagination Library relies on the support of our community.
You can make a lasting impact by sponsoring a child's enrollment in the program. Just $26 will provide one year of books for a local child! With a $130 donation, you can
sponsor a child for their full five years in the program.
Give generously today, and help increase literacy and build home libraries for hundreds of kids and families.
Please note "Dolly Parton" in the Designation Instructions.
What is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library?
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an early literacy initiative that provides new, age-appropriate books to children each month for the first five years of their lives FOR FREE, regardless of their family’s income.
The program promotes early childhood education and fosters parent/child interaction - both of which are fundamental ingredients for future educational success. Research has shown that children who participate in the program gain the skills that prepare them for school.
Why does early reading matter?
The early years are the learning years.
This program encourages parents and caregivers to read with their children, giving them a big boost toward a successful education.
Birth to age six is the most critical for a child’s development. By the time a child reaches six years of age, they have fundamental traits that greatly affect their prospects to succeed throughout life.
Daily reading directly impacts healthy development, like other routine activities such as eating, sleeping, and brushing teeth.
In the time it takes to read a book, thousands of new connections are created in a child’s brain that help them read, write, and communicate. Books introduce new words and help children understand the meaning of those words, enabling them to become better readers.
We can prepare children for a lifetime of success in reading and learning simply by providing them with the gift of books.
How does the program work?
All children whose parent or guardian enrolls them in the program will receive books mailed directly to them monthly until the child turns five years old. Each month, a new, carefully selected book is mailed in the child’s name to their home. The child will receive their first book approximately 8-12 weeks after they are enrolled.
Who is eligible?
Children under the age of five in Greene, Lawrence, Orange, and Owen counties. It is completely free to families. Your child can look forward to new and exciting reading adventures from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library until they turn five years old as long as you live within a covered geographic area.
If your child moves outside of a covered geographic region, they exit the program. However, be sure to check the Dollywood Foundation website for an Imagination Library in your new community!
What are my responsibilities as a parent or caregiver?
- Be a resident of Greene, Lawrence, Orange, and Owen County.
- Submit an official registration form either online or download and print this pdf. If printing pdf, completely fill it out, sign by the authorized adult, and mail it to United Way of South Central Indiana, 431 S. College Ave, Bloomington, IN 47403.
- Notify United Way of South Central Indiana at info@unitedwaysci.org any time your address changes. Books are mailed to the address listed on your account. Note: If the child's address changes, you must contact United Way of South Central Indiana in order to continue receiving books.
- Read with your child and have fun!
How do I enroll my child?
Signing up your child for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is easy! Just click on the "Enroll Your Child" button above or click here.
Thanks to these organizations for supporting the Imagination Library in Greene, Lawrence, Orange, and Owen counties:
Greene County Foundation
Owen County Community Foundation
Lawrence Community Foundation
Orange County Community Foundation
Orange County Community Foundation Youth Services