In 1996, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort to benefit the children of her home county in east Tennessee. Dolly wanted to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. She wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income.
So she decided to mail a brand new, age appropriate book each month to every child under 5 in Sevier County. With the arrival of every child’s first book, the classic The Little Engine That Could ™, every child could now experience the joy of finding their very own book in their mail box. These moments continue each month until the child turns 5—and in their very last month in the program they receive Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.
Needless to say the experience has been a smashing success. So much so that many other communities clamored to provide the Imagination Library to their children. Dolly thought long and hard about it and decided her Foundation should develop a way for other communities to participate. The Foundation asked a blue ribbon panel of experts to select just the right books and secured Penguin Group USA to be the exclusive publisher for the Imagination Library. Moreover a database was built to keep track of the information.
Consequently, in March of 2000 she stood at the podium of The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and revealed the plan for other communities to provide the Imagination Library to their children. And as only Dolly can say it, she wanted to “put her money where her mouth is – and with such a big mouth that’s a pretty large sum of money” and provide the books herself to the children of Branson, Missouri and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – communities where her businesses now operate. If other leaders in their communities were willing to do the same, well something big might just happen.
You know what? It did!!
Here’s how it works:
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will help you read with your child. There are many reasons parents do not read to their child, but we can eliminate one of them. Every child will have books of their very own, at no cost to you, thanks to Governor Bredesen and the State of Tennessee, Montgomery County and its partner organizations, other generous sponsors and Dolly Parton.
Each month a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in your child's name directly to your home. He/She can look forward to new and exciting reading adventures from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library until he/she turns five (5) years old as long as you remain a resident of Montgomery County. Should the child move outside Montgomery County, he/she automatically exits the program. If you're moving within Tennessee, call toll free 1-877-99BOOKS or go to www.governorsfoundation.org to see if the Imagination Library is available in your new community.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is FREE GIFT to your children! All you have to do is read to your children.
Preschool children (birth until their fifth birthday) of Montgomery County.
Eight to ten weeks after your registration form has been received, books will begin arriving at your home and will continue until your child turns five or you move out of Montgomery County.
Donations may be sent to:
United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region
1300 Madison Street
Clarksville, TN 37040
(931) 647-4291 or by clicking here.
Special Thanks To:
Bi-County Solid Waste Management
Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce
Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library
Clarksville Sunrise Rotary Club
Gateway Health System
Rotary Club of Clarksville
United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region * 1300 Madison Street * Clarksville, TN * 37040 *Phone: (931) 647-4291 * Fax: (931) 647-4338* E-Mail