Imagination Library
Developed in 1996 by singer Dolly Parton, this early learning program puts a new, age-appropriate book every month in the hands of kids from birth through 5 years of age. United Way covers the cost of enrollment for many children, especially low-income families who may find books to be an unaffordable luxury.
Results & Impact
![Stuff the Bus](/wp-content/themes/yootheme/cache/1b/Education-Stat-Reading-3-1b23e594.jpeg)
5,556
Books received by children under 5 in SLO County in 2023
![Stuff the Bus](/wp-content/themes/yootheme/cache/02/Education-Stat-Reading-2-02daa331.jpeg)
27,000+
![Young girl reading](/wp-content/themes/yootheme/cache/c8/Education-Stat-Reading-c8f323b3.jpeg)
5
School districts receive school supplies for kids in need each year
Inspiring a Love of Reading
Since we started the Imagination Library program in 2011 in SLO County, more than 27,000 books have been mailed to local children!
Each child enrolled in the program receives a new, age-appropriate book every month from enrollment through five years of age. From their first book, “The Little Engine That Could”, through the last book of the series, “Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come,” all books are reviewed and selected by a panel of experts.
Studies show that if a child can read at grade level by the time she or he is in fourth grade, they increase their chances of succeeding in middle school and graduating on time from high school. This program gets children excited about reading and before they even enter kindergarten, they can have their own personal library. It also helps strengthen families by encouraging positive interaction between adults and children through shared reading.
With United Way covering the cost of enrollment for many children, Imagination Library is especially valuable to low-income families who may find books to be an unaffordable luxury. However, the number of children we can enroll is determined by the amount of generous donations we receive.
Your donation to Imagination Library helps give the gift of literacy to local children.
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Developed in 1996 by writer and singer Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library is intended to encourage a love of reading and learning. Her impoverished childhood and father’s illiteracy inspired the country legend to create the program in her native Sevier County, Tennessee.
On February 27, 2018, the 100 millionth book was dedicated to the Library of Congress. As of February 2024, The Imagination Library now has 2,886,480 children registered and has delivered over 229,832,740 million books around the world.
Invest in Lasting Change
When you invest in United Way, you create lasting change right here in our community. The money raised stays here to improve access to education and income so all residents of San Luis Obispo County can thrive.