The Library Vault

A Legacy for Children’s Literacy by Amy S.

You may have heard the mournful news of Dolly Parton’s passing. Here at Russell Library, we are deeply saddened by the loss of such a guiding light in America. Dolly Parton chose to use her fortune and influence to help children learn to read and to love books. In interviews, she said that she created the Imagination Library after watching her father struggle with reading throughout her childhood. Though Dolly is gone, her Imagination Library remains as her legacy to help children and families. Dolly took special care to ensure that this legacy will continue intact and thriving for future generations to come.

Here are Russell Library, we are proud to be a part of that legacy through our partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL for short). How does it work? The Imagination Library works with local organizations like Russell Library to send children one free book a month until they turn five years of age. When they turn five, they receive a special graduation book. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library pays for the books. The community partners pay for the postage to get the books to children’s homes. Russell Library’s funding for this program comes from community partnerships and grants. It does not come from our operational budget.

If your child has a Middletown address and is under the age of five, you can quickly sign them up to receive monthly books for free to your house. You pay nothing and just have to sign up once. Once your child is signed up, it may take 1-2 months to begin receiving books. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library sends books to millions of children around the world every month, so thanks for your patience as they work to set-up your child’s account.

You are also welcome to call the Youth & Family Learning desk at Russell Library so that a staff member can assist with your sign-up: 860-347-2528 x3. Or, email us at kidsdept@russelllibrary.org for assistance.

Don’t live in Middletown? You have several options. First, contact your local library or your local town officials to ask for this service. You can also contact your state representatives using the Connecticut General Assembly’s “Find Your Legislators” tool. An increasing number of states in America fund the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for every child under five who lives within their borders. Connecticut is not currently one of those participating states, but that could change if enough people ask for it.

If you want to help support our efforts to fulfill Dolly’s dream of free books in the hands of children, please consider donating to Russell Library’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library fund. All donations go to sending free books to kids in Middletown.

In the meantime, if you do not live in Middletown or in another participating town, or if your children are over the age of five, you can you request free books from our partner, Read to Grow. Read to Grow will create a curated box of books based on your individual child’s reading level and interests. You can request free books several times a year. I used them for my own kids, and I was amazed by the high quality and generous number of the books that we received. Read to Grow can always use donations, too. Like Russell Library and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Read to Grow is also a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so you know that your money will go to help others.

Why send free books to children to keep? Not all children can make it to the library on a regular basis. Even if they can go the library, it boosts a child’s self confidence to receive their own books in the mail, addressed to them, that they own forever. Easy access to books builds childhood literacy, helps a child succeed in life, and directly contributes to socio-economic success as an adult. Higher literacy rates translate to a thriving ecosystem and lower crime, which benefits for everyone. Research shows that programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library help close literacy gaps, strengthen families, and build a lifetime love of learning.

As Dolly Parton said, “You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children.“ We will miss you, Dolly. Thank you for helping so many children. Rest in peace.