What is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?

The Imagination Library (DPIL) is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth until age 5, no matter their family’s income.

Legendary musician and actress Dolly Parton started this program in tribute to her father, who could not read. She believed this was a way to honor him by helping to ensure that books would get into the hands of children who may have otherwise not had the opportunity.

Who is eligible?

The DPIL is an international program operating in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Ireland. If you have a child under the age of 5 (they age out of the program the day they turn 5) and you live in a county that has a branch of the DPIL, your child is eligible.

As a cooperative, we have members in Adams, Blackford, Jay, Randolph, Wells, and Delaware counties. However, for the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library we only represent Jay County. Please visit imaginationlibrary.com to check availability and application information if you live in any of these other counties.

Is there a need here?

In August 2021, Jay County REMC partnered with the United Way of Jay County to bring a branch of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Jay County. We launched the program not knowing what kind of response we would have. It turns out, this was a program that our community was aware of and ready to go. We already had over 400 kids signed up for the program in six months.

How can you help?

As the Jay County branch affiliate, it is our job to ensure that we have enough funding to keep the program going. If you, or your business, would like to donate to the Jay County branch of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, please send the donation to the United Way of Jay County at P.O. Box 204, Portland, IN 47371. Be sure to write “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library” in the memo line so that the United Way can allocate these donations to the appropriate fund.

Or, if you work for a service organization, school, or any other entity that serves the community and would like to hold a fundraiser for the Jay County branch of the DPIL, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Carly at Jay County REMC at 260-726-7121. This program goes hand-in-hand with so many other community programs. We can’t wait to team up to make this branch of the DPIL a success.

For more information about this program, please visit jayremc.com imaginationlibrary.com.