As we of our celebrate the life of our Dreamer-In-Chief and 20 years of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in our state, we are reminded how one story can spark opportunities for generations.
“You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children.” – Dolly Parton
Remembering Dolly… click here
Dolly Weekend at Gritt’s Farm is Sept 19 & 20!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of West Virginia is grateful and excited for this a”MAZE”ing collaboration with Gritt’s Farm!
A portion of admissions to Gritt’s Farm on Dolly Weekend September 19 & 20 will directly buy books for children enrolled in Imagination Library!
About
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family’s income. The Imagination Library program is built on decades of reading research consistently demonstrating that having books at home helps children develop literacy skills. Children from low-income homes across West Virginia deserve access to high-quality, developmentally appropriate books.
The West Virginia Department of Education and Marshall University’s June Harless Center, in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, is fostering a love of books among West Virginia’s children. Books are delivered to the home on a monthly basis at no cost to families.
The June Harless Center acts as a fundraising arm for the Imagination Library program to help in meeting the long-term goal which is to ensure that every child in West Virginia has access to age-appropriate books prior to entering school.
Braille Tales Program Partnership
Braille Tales books are now available in West Virginia! in partnership with American Printing House for the Blind.
APH has partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which offers free books to children from birth to age five in five countries. Through this partnership, select DPIL books are chosen each year to be our Braille Tales books. Braille labels are added to each book, bringing the whole family together by allowing you to read braille or print. Parents who are visually impaired and have fully sighted children can also sign up! The braille allows the parent to read to the child.
Audio Book Downloads also available.
Dolly Dash 5K Race for Reading
Dolly Dash was One for the Books!
A heartfelt thank you to our community, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who registered and showed up to make this event such a success!
Here’s what we accomplished together:
- 12,000 books for local children provided through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programming
- A fun and memorable 20th Anniversary Celebration of children, literacy, community, and the joy of reading
- Our biggest Dolly Dash event turnout to date!
- We served racers, runners, and walkers
This annual fundraiser is essential in sustaining local programming.
Let’s do it again next year!
Save the date – 8/7/2027
All proceeds directly purchase and mail books to children statewide.
For Local Program Partnership inquiries, contact:
