Imagination Library Colorado

Program Overview

In 1996, Dolly Parton launched Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) book gifting program to foster a love of reading in Tennessee's children. Each month, 1 brand-new, developmentallyappropriate book is mailed to a child's home at no cost and no hassle to parents.

In 2000, the program became available for replication to any community willing to champion it locally. Since its launch, DPIL has mailed 172,000,000+ books to children worldwide. The program model provides a turnkey, replicable “blueprint" to promote early childhood literacy and kindergarten readiness.

In 2019, a group of Colorado community leaders saw the impact the Imagination Library has on children throughout the State, and plans were put in motion to mail books to ALL Colorado children. On February 26, 2020, Senate Bill SB20-185 was introduced to the Colorado General Assembly to provide funding for a statewide Imagination Library. The bi-partisan sponsored Bill was signed on July 10, 2020, and became effective on September 13, 2020.

Supported by the Colorado Department of Education, with the motivation and drive that All Means All, Imagination Library strives to provide equitable access to all Colorado children under five.

Since the first affiliate launched in Colorado in 2005, more than 1.4 million books have been mailed by more than 28 affiliates. Today, nearly 9% of children in Colorado receive books each month. If a child is enrolled at birth, they will own a 60-volume library when they start kindergarten.

The five-year goal is to mail 210,199 books per month to children living in Colorado.

Cost Info