Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. There are many reasons parents do not read to their children, but the Literacy Coalition of Hancock County believes that we can eliminate one of those reasons: a lack of books within the home. In 1996, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee, USA. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families.Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, children in Hancock County will have books of their own…at no cost to the family! A new carefully selected book will be mailed, in the child’s name, to his or her home each and every month from birth until he or she turns five years of age. The Literacy Coalition will raise the funds to cover the annual cost of $25/child/year or an average monthly cost of $2.08. Titles are chosen by a blue ribbon panel of educators, are age appropriate, and have concepts that build upon each other. All children, regardless of household income are eligible for the program. Registration is not based on socioeconomics, risk factors, participation in certain programs, parental factors or by any other means other than a child’s age and residence. Should a child move out of Hancock County, he/she is deleted from the program unless the family moves to another community that participates in the Imagination Library program.
The Literacy Coalition is currently developing fundraising plans in order to raise the necessary monies to maintain the program. When sufficient reserves are established, Literacy Coalition of Hancock County will begin distributing and