An international committee, with the help of Penguin Group USA, selected the book titles to ensure that every child gets the best books possible. Every book delivered to a child’s home, is the collective result of many individual efforts from the person who hands out a registration form to the person who enters a child’s information into the database.
Communities across the nation represent thousands of local organizations, combining the generosity of donors, corporate sponsors and early childhood literacy supporters to make a difference. In 2005, we saw more local school systems and civic organizations come aboard Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The United Way continued to be an important partner in the ongoing network as they connected local businesses, Chambers of Commerce, Success by 6 strategies, and members of the educational community.
Imagination Library's first venture into a statewide program across Tennessee was led by the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF) and included all Tennessee counties.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library celebrated another year of exponential growth. The number of communities soared from 385 to 566 and the total number of books given for the year virtually doubled to 1.9 million. In December, the total number of children enrolled in the program crossed the 200,000 threshold.
On June 18, 2004, Dolly, Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, Barney, the purple dinosaur, and about 1000 children and parents gathered at Dollywood to celebrate Gov. Bredesen’s pledge to provide Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program to every child under five across the entire state. For the first time, an entire state guaranteed that every child within its borders will have access to quality books and the joy they inspire.
During this year, many discussions about a statewide Imagination Library took place in several communities and the number of participating Affiliates continued to rise. Books could potentially be mailed to eligible children in all 50 states, and ideally, entire states would replicate the program beyond their current communities. The monthly book ordering process was also vastly improved and social awareness about the program was buzzing.
A new database system was eventually designed, creating a much easier way for Affiliates to add children’s registration information online. The combination of technological improvements as well as the generosity of Dolly herself, Dixie Stampede, Dollywood and all corporate sponsors meant that communities would only continue to pay for just the cost of the actual books and postage.
By the end of 2004, 375 communities in 39 states were providing Imagination Library books to the children in their coverage area. In December, for the first time ever, the number of children receiving books each month surpassed 100,000 and brought the yearly total of books to 980,000.
Dolly delivered the one millionth Imagination Library book to a little girl from Georgia named Cana Beth Waynick on, December 12, 2003, during a special ceremony at Dollywood. This moment symbolized not only what had been accomplished so far, but also showed the promise of even more valuable opportunities for the future of Imagination Library.
Dolly talked about why she created Imagination Library at the event,
“I was the worst student in the world, hated school. But I got involved in the education stuff several years ago when we first started the scholarship fund back in the '70s. And of course, my folks didn't get a chance for a good education. My Dad never was able to read and write. Had a house full of kids. But he was the smartest person I ever knew in spite of that fact. And I just think I wonder what all my Daddy could have been had he been able to read and write. And of course through the years we've tried to help all the young kids in any way that we can.”
Her Imagination Library has widened its offering to try to reach all children. Bilingual books were added as well as special editions which include reading tips for parents printed inside the books. Registration brochures were made available in Spanish. A diverse group of educational professionals and passionate individuals began working together in their commitment to encourage every child’s love of reading.
The first study about the impact of Imagination Library was released this year. Conducted by the High/Scope Research Educational Foundation, the study concluded,
“Parents overwhelmingly report that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program is effective at increasing time spent reading with children, making children more interested in books, making parents more comfortable reading to children, and increasing parent awareness of their children’s reading levels.”
By the end of 2003, a total of 260 communities in 35 states had committed to providing Imagination Library books to their preschool children. The number of children receiving books each month (63,000) was more than twice the number at the end of 2002 and the same doubling held true for the total number of books distributed for the entire year.
In 2003, Dolly was honored with the Child and Family Advocacy Award which honors an individual or organization who has demonstrated exceptional service and dedication in advocating for children and families. Presented by the Parents as Teachers National Center, the award honors Dolly for her Imagination Library program.
Dolly started her Imagination Library program in 1995 to put age-appropriate books in the hands of preschool-aged children. For communities that choose to support the program, every child receives a book by mail from birth to age five.
Other people who have received the award include Carol Brunson, the National League of Cities, United Way of America, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Missouri Senator Kit Bond, Marian Wright Edelman, Evelyn Moore, Patricia Kempthorne and the Albertson Foundation, among others.
On December 13, 2002, Dolly gathered several special guests and important district leaders together in Pigeon Forge, to announce that preschoolers in 92 Native American communities would become recipients of Imagination Library books.
In September,10 United Way organizations in South Dakota launched a united effort to provide the Imagination Library to every eligible child in the state. The effort was launched under the leadership of the Sioux Empire United Way. The Sioux expansion was part of a larger national expansion of Dolly's Imagination Library throughout Native Communities across the nation. The Ferst Books Foundation began to mail books within 8 communities in Georgia and set a goal to reach every native child in Georgia. In Dolly’s home state of Tennessee, a statewide development strategy was also put into place.
On a national level, the sponsorship from the Bureau of Indian Affairs marked a new partnership with the federal government. Once again, there was evidence that this type of partnership would create other federally funded efforts. Education foundations, community organizations, civic groups, non-profits, local businesses and Chambers of Commerce decided to become a part of this endeavor.
This news confirmed an extraordinary year of growth for all. At the end of 2002, there were exactly 185 communities committed to the program and for the first time, the actual number of children receiving a book each month exceeded 30,000!
