Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a renowned early literacy program, provides free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five. The program encourages a love of reading while building vocabulary and language skills, giving children a head start when they enter kindergarten. Each program relies on a local affiliate, the Pulaski County Public Library Foundation, to serve as its 501(c)(3) partner. Although Imagination Library is offered at no cost to families, there is a local requirement to secure funding for the books and cover shipping fees. This cost is currently $31 per child annually, which makes donations crucial to sustaining this impactful initiative. Funding is currently matched by the State of Indiana budget, but it has been zeroed out of the upcoming budget.
The Pulaski County Public Library launched its local affiliate for Imagination Library in 2018, and demand for the program quickly exceeded available funds. This excitement quickly led to a waitlist of children who were eager to receive the service. When local individuals heard of the need, many sprang into action to contribute money to help clear the waitlist. Since the program is ongoing, fundraising must be ongoing, too.
In 2023, the state legislature approved $6 million in funding for two years to provide for the program's expansion and continuation across the state. Through this commitment, the state paid 50% of the monthly program cost, while the local affiliate paid the other 50%. Unfortunately, the budget for the matching program was not included in the upcoming state budget.
While it is commendable that efforts are being made to secure financial support for this invaluable program, we are concerned about its sustainability. The uncertainty surrounding this funding match poses a risk to the program's ability to reach all eligible Hoosier children and could result in future waiting lists across the state.
Inclusion in the state's biennial budget provides a far more reliable and sustainable source of funding for local affiliates. By allocating a guaranteed portion of state funds, the program is assured of steady support. Additionally, including it in the budget aligns the Imagination Library with broader state literacy initiatives.
Government backing signals a strong public commitment to early childhood education, which is recognized as critical to future academic success and a well-prepared workforce.
For these reasons, we believe securing dedicated funding through the state's biennial budget is the best solution. It guarantees the sustainability and equity of the Imagination Library for all children in Indiana and demonstrates the state's commitment to early literacy.
We encourage you to contact your state elected official to express your support for this valuable program, which helps all Hoosier children. If you'd like to financially support the Pulaski County Imagination Library Affiliate and help keep this program going strong locally, please consider donating to the Pulaski County Public Library Foundation.
Since being introduced locally, nearly 800 children in Pulaski County have received Imagination Library books. With your support, we can ensure that every eligible child has the same opportunity for a strong start in life.
Sincerely,
Pulaski County Public Library Board of Trustees & Pulaski County Public Library Foundation Board
February 28, 2025