The beloved program has already delivered more than 460,000 books to Pittsburgh-area children — and local families can still enroll kids under 5.
Like so many people, I was heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dolly Parton this week. And while there are countless ways to remember the music, generosity, and joy she gave the world, there's one piece of her legacy that hits especially close to home for me.
Both of my kids grew up receiving books from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
I still remember how exciting it was for them to get a package in the mail with their name on it — and how, book by book, those little packages became a library of their own.
That's why, when information about Pittsburgh's push to expand the program landed in my inbox last week, I already knew I wanted to share it with local parents. Following Dolly's passing on August 25, it feels even more important.
And there's something families should know right away:
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library isn't going anywhere.
 My daughter, at 9 months old building her book collection. |
📚 The Need-to-Know for Pittsburgh Parents
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library sends one FREE, age-appropriate book every month directly to enrolled children.
That means:
- Children can participate from birth through age 5
- A child enrolled at birth can receive up to 60 free books
- Books are mailed directly to your home
- There are no income requirements
- There are no fees
- Enrollment takes just a few minutes
Eligible children must live within the City of Pittsburgh or participating Mon Valley communities.
👉 Check your ZIP code and enroll your child here.
Note: Reading Ready Pittsburgh says Dolly-related websites are experiencing increased traffic following her passing, so families may need to be patient with the enrollment form.
❤️ 460,000 Books — and Counting
Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995, inspired in part by her father, who could not read or write.
What began as a program for children in her home county in Tennessee eventually became an international early-literacy movement — including right here in Pittsburgh.
To date, more than 460,000 books have been delivered to children throughout Pittsburgh and the Mon Valley through the program.
And that number will continue growing.
Reading Ready Pittsburgh, along with the City of Pittsburgh and lead funder The Benter Foundation, says it remains committed to continuing and expanding Dolly's vision locally.
“Every month, when a child in our community opens the mailbox and finds a book with their name on it, Dolly’s legacy continues. We are deeply honored to help carry that legacy forward for Pittsburgh’s children and families.”
— Dr. Mary Denison, Executive Director of Reading Ready Pittsburgh
Why Having Books at Home Matters
The program isn't simply about giving kids something fun in the mail.
Research into Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has found that enrolled children are more likely to be read to regularly, show an interest in reading, and participate in shared reading with their families.
According to research shared by The Dollywood Foundation, after receiving just 10 Imagination Library books, children were at least four times more likely to demonstrate strong emerging literacy skills.
And those benefits begin long before kindergarten.
Language development starts during infancy, making those early years an important time for families to read, talk, point at pictures, turn pages, and simply enjoy books together.
📬 There's Something Special About Mail With Your Name On It
This is the part the statistics don't really capture.
When my kids participated, the books weren't something I picked out at the store or grabbed from the library. They arrived for them.
There was something genuinely exciting about seeing their own names on those packages and discovering what Dolly had sent that month.
As a parent, I loved that the books simply kept showing up. Some became favorites. Some were read over and over. And without really thinking about it, we were building a home library along the way.
Years later, I can tell you this is one of those programs I'm genuinely grateful we had when my kids were little.
Help Keep Dolly's Legacy Growing in Pittsburgh
Reading Ready Pittsburgh and the City of Pittsburgh are currently working to expand participation in the Imagination Library, with the goal of reaching approximately 14,000 eligible Pittsburgh children.
Over the next five years, those children could collectively receive as many as half a million books.
So if you have a child under 5 — or know a Pittsburgh parent who does — this is one link worth sharing.
📚 Check eligibility and sign up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
And if your children have already aged out like mine have, there's another way to honor what Dolly created. Community members can donate to support the Imagination Library and help put books into the hands — and mailboxes — of another generation of kids.
Dolly gave the world a lot of things we'll remember.
I love knowing that somewhere in Pittsburgh next month, a little kid will open the mailbox, see their name on a package, and discover that Dolly sent them one more book.
