dolly parton's imagination library
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) is a book gifting program for children from birth to age five.
After 7 years of open registration, due to limited Smart Start funding, Region A Partnership is unable to accept NEW registrations for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties, and the Qualla Boundary. Children already enrolled will continue to receive books until their fifth birthday.
​We would to clarify some misinformation that we have seen on social media.
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Misinformation:
The Dolly Parton Foundation pays for the costs of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in North Carolina.
Clarification:
The Smart Start funded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, that is sponsored by the Region A Partnership for Children and the North Carolina Partnership for Children, covers the entire cost of the books and postage for the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in most of the counties in Region A. Matt’s Ministry in Clay County covers the cost of the Program and is still enrolling children there with private funds.
Misinformation:
The Smart Start funded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program is going away.
Clarification:
While we have currently stopped enrolling new children for the program because of limited funding, all children currently enrolled in the Smart Start funded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program will continue to receive their monthly books until they reach age 5.
The current pause in new enrollment, because of limited funding, is believed to be temporary. The challenge is that the costs associated with expanding enrollment in the program have exceeded the state legislative allocation for the Smart Start Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. The way the program works is that when children graduate at age 5, new spaces are opened up for new enrollment when funding allows. Therefore, we expect there will be opportunities for new enrollment as current enrollment numbers are reduced through children graduating.
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For questions, please contact our Executive Director, Janice Edgerton, at jedgerton@rapc.org or 828-586-0661.
