MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Gov. Kay Ivey joined Alabamians and people across the country in mourning the passing of Dolly Parton and honored her extraordinary life and legacy.
“Dolly Parton was a true American treasure. While the world knew and loved her for her remarkable talent, her greatest legacy may very well be the countless lives she changed through her generosity and her belief in the potential of every child,” said Ivey. “Dolly understood that putting a book in the hands of a young child can open a world of possibilities, and through her Imagination Library, she made sure millions of children had that opportunity.”
The governor launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama statewide in August of 2023 to provide free high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to Alabama children from birth to age five.
The program was administered by the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education in partnership with local organizations across the state.
“Here in Alabama, today, 116,000 Alabama children receive a free book in the mail each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama, and more than 3 million books have been mailed to children across our state since we launched the statewide program,” continued Ivey.
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The program has grown to serve children in all 67 counties, with more than three million books mailed to their homes.
“I join Alabamians in celebrating Dolly’s remarkable life and extend my prayers to her family, friends and the millions of people around the world who loved her. Alabama will proudly continue the work she began, helping our youngest learners develop a love of reading and reminding every child that their dreams are worth dreaming,” Ivey said.
The Imagination Library will continue but there will soon be another way for families to support the program. The program’s specialty license plate has officially received enough pre-commitments to move into production and is expected to be available within the next 8-12 weeks.
The proceeds from each plate will stay in the county where it is registered, helping provide monthly books to children enrolled in the program locally.
Parents can sign their children up for the Imagination Library by clicking here.
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