Imagination Library Signups Underway

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is now available to Buena Vista, Rockbridge, and most Lexington residents, following a kickoff event Saturday at the Rockbridge Regional Library.

The program, which sends free books to children once a month from the ages of 0 to 5, is sponsored locally by New Providence Presbyterian Church.

According to the organization’s website, “In 1995, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee, USA. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families.”

“By mailing high quality, age appropriate books directly to their homes, Dolly wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could ensure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income,” it reads.

“It’s a real partnership, between local groups and the Dollywood foundation,” said Marsha Goodfriend of New Providence, who explained that the church will pick up a $2.20 charge for each book, including shipping, and that there will be no cost for families to participate in the program.

New Providence chose to partner with the imagination Library to extend its services into Rockbridge County.

“We became interested in this when we realized there was no other program like it in the community,” said Goodfriend. “Our church’s mission is to serve God and the community, and we saw this as a real way to serve our community.”

Families can sign up for this program by searching imaginationlibarary. com/checkavailability/, and entering a zip code. If this address is within the coverage area, you will be taken to an online signup form.

Registration is also available on newprovidencepresbyterianchurch. org under the New Providence Imagination Library tab.