Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is set to double its footprint across London, expanding from five boroughs to ten. The programme, which mails a free book to children every month until they turn five, will bring an additional 157,000 youngsters into its fold. The announcement arrives just one month after the passing of the country music legend at the age of 80.
Parton established the initiative in 1995 as a tribute to her father, who never learned to read or write. Supported by funding from the Postcode Lottery, the scheme is open to all children in participating areas regardless of household income.
Jeff Conyers, president of the Dollywood Foundation, stated that Parton would have been “incredibly proud” of the project’s growth in the capital. “Dolly always wanted the Imagination Library to be something that lived on for generations into the future,” Conyers said. “She was constantly pushing us about how we get the Imagination Library to more and more children and more and more families.”
The expansion addresses growing concerns regarding early childhood literacy. Organisers cite figures indicating that only 41% of children aged four and under are read to frequently, a significant drop from 64% in 2012. Additionally, teachers have reported that 28% of children entering reception class struggle to handle books correctly, with some attempting to swipe or tap pages as if they were digital screens.
For parents like Harriet Sedrick-Ugo, an early years educator from south London, the programme has been transformative. Her four-year-old daughter, Sienna, has gained considerable confidence through daily reading sessions made possible by the monthly deliveries. “She loves reading for pleasure because we have so many books at home from the Imagination Library,” Sedrick-Ugo said.
Sedrick-Ugo highlighted the financial relief the scheme provides. “Buying books can be quite expensive, so if they’re going to be getting it for free, that would be something a lot of families can benefit from,” she noted. “I think it’s the kindest initiative ever and we are so very grateful to have something so meaningful gifted to us.”
The Dollywood Foundation reports that the initiative has delivered more than seven million books to children in the UK since its launch. Clara Govier, managing director of the Postcode Lottery, emphasised the simplicity of the programme’s impact: “Dolly understood the extraordinary power of something very simple: a child, a grown-up and a book.”
To mark the expansion, a celebration will be held at the British Library ahead of Give Like Dolly Day on 25 September.
Double the boroughs means double the impact. This expansion couldn’t come at a better time.
What a beautiful way to honor her legacy. Literacy for every child is truly priceless.