Know Your Library: Imagination Library

Did you know that Muhlenberg County Public Libraries, in conjunction with the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation, provides access to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for local children?

Imagination Library is an international program under the umbrella of the Dollywood Foundation that works to make sure all children have adequate access to books. Children from birth to age 5 can receive a free book in the mail every month through the Imagination Library.

Our local program is funded through the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation and managed by the library.

The main Imagination Library program selects and mails the books to registered children from a centralized location. Local partners across the country, like us, are responsible for a portion of the cost of the books and mailing expenses as well as communicating with parents about the availability of the program. Our staff maintains the local database of participating children, and the Martin Foundation reimburses the library for the portion of the book purchasing and mailing costs we pay to the Imagination Library program.

The library and Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation also collaborate to promote and advertise the program.

Currently, 1,169 Muhlenberg County children – more than 70 percent – are enrolled in the program. Our goal is to reach 100 percent participation, but we have already exceeded the 60 percent participation rate the Imagination Library program suggests that local partners plan for.

Additionally, although Muhlenberg County accounts for less than 1 percent of the total population of Kentucky, just over 3 percent of the children participating in the Imagination Library program in the entire state are enrolled in our local Muhlenberg County program.

We have also had more than 3,200 enrolled children “graduate” from the program.

In order to be considered eligible for Muhlenberg County’s Imagination Library program, children must be under 5 years of age and must live in Muhlenberg County.

You can find more information or sign up for Imagination Library online at https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/KYMUHLENBERG/. You can also register by mail or in person at the library.

If you need to change your address or other registration info, you can also do that online, or you may contact the library.

It can take up to three months for your child to receive their first book, and address changes may take up to two months to be reflected in the national database.

For more information about Imagination Library, contact Muhlenberg County Public Libraries at 270-338-4760!