Governor Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear welcomed Dolly Parton to the Historic Lyric Theater in the Commonwealth this week to celebrate the statewide success of the Imagination Library. The program, founded by Parton, ensures kids have access to age-appropriate reading material. When they are enrolled, children are sent a free book every month from birth to age five.
Officials said Kentucky has been successful in sending books to children in every county of the state with the help of the Imagination Library. Parton said she’s thankful for the partnership between her program and the Commonwealth.
“I was so excited to come here. We’re in several states, but we’re still working on some others, but being so close to home here I was so excited to come up here and be able to let you know just how much I appreciate it in person. So, thank you,” said Parton.
Governor Beshear named Parton a member of the Honorary Order of Kentucky Colonels and proclaimed August as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky Month.
First Lady Beshear said parents and children can enjoy stories together thanks to Parton.
“She has shown the world that together you and I can provide every child with their own personal library before they start kindergarten at no cost to families,” said First Lady Beshear.
The first Imagination Library program in the state was established in Henderson County over 20 years ago. Since then, more than six million books have been delivered to preschool-age children in every ZIP code in the state. Currently, 120,000 Kentucky kids, more than 45 percent of all eligible children in the state, are enrolled in the program.
The program is supported by a 50 percent state-to-local program funding match, which was included in the state budget that was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by Beshear in 2021. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky’s statewide program partner.