New York state is partnering with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to provide books to children under the age of five. This initiative serves as a tribute to the late country music icon's commitment to childhood literacy.
The state Office of Children and Family Services is seeking proposals from not-for-profit entities, including school districts and hospitals, to participate in the book distribution program. The state will fund 50% of the book costs, up to $50,000 per instance, and will also cover mailing expenses. Participating organizations will be responsible for the remaining costs.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library manages administrative tasks and negotiates bulk pricing with publishers. The program, founded by Parton in 1995 in her home county of Tennessee, has expanded nationally and internationally with governmental support. Parton, whose father was illiterate, has stated that the Imagination Library may be her most significant legacy.
According to program data, over 332 million books have been distributed since its inception, with nearly 3.2 million children currently registered. In New York, approximately 170,000 children receive monthly books from the program. State Senator Jeremy Cooney has been a proponent of state grants for the Imagination Library, highlighting its role in supporting childhood literacy and bringing joy to families.
Earlier awards indicate that New York hospitals have also bid to deliver books from the Imagination Library to parents of newborns, with some expressing a desire to enroll every baby admitted to their mother-baby units. Winning bidders will be required to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.