LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Public Library (CCPL) is celebrating a major literacy milestone: More than 100,000 free books have been gifted to local children through the Imagination Library of Charles County.
Since its local launch in 2020, the program has registered more than 5,400 children under the age of 5. Each month, participating families receive a brand-new, age-appropriate book in the mail, helping children build personal home libraries before entering kindergarten.
The initiative is part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which began in 1995 in Tennessee to promote early literacy and now celebrates its 30th anniversary. The program has expanded to five countries — the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland — and has gifted hundreds of millions of books worldwide.
Book Themes by Age
Each series of books in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is carefully curated to match a child’s developmental stage. For newborns and toddlers, selections emphasize bright colors, rhythm, rhyme and tactile features such as board pages. As children grow, books gradually introduce storytelling, imagination, diversity of people and cultures, and themes that promote self-esteem, confidence and a love of art and learning. By the time children reach age 5, they have experienced a full progression of stories designed to prepare them for school and inspire a lifelong passion for reading.
Eligibility and Access
Children up to 4 years and 11 months old who live in Charles County may be enrolled. Books are mailed directly to a child’s home within six to nine weeks of registration, and families can expect up to 60 books by the time a child turns 5. Some bilingual titles are available in English and Spanish.
Each eligible child must be registered separately, and every child will receive their own monthly book. Parents or legal guardians can register a child online or at any CCPL branch. Registration is open year-round, with no deadline.
Learn more about the Imagination Library of Charles County at ccplonline.org/imagination-library.
The Dollywood Foundation
Dolly Parton created The Dollywood Foundation (DWF) in 1988. Its original mission was to inspire children in her home county (Sevier County, Tenn.) to succeed in education and to boost high school graduation rates. Today, the foundation’s mission is to share the life and legacy of Dolly Parton as an inspiration for children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More™. Its flagship program, which Dolly launched in 1995, is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The Dollywood Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Sevierville, Tenn.
Contact Information
Address: 111 E. Main St., 2nd Floor, Sevierville, TN 37862
Telephone: 865-428-9606 | Web: ImaginationLibrary.com
Instagram: @ImaginationLibrary | Facebook: @DollysImaginationLibrary | X: @DollysLibrary
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