Free Books for Kids: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Comes to Western New York!
Local lawmakers have teamed up with the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Western New York. This wonderful initiative is now available for children from birth to age five living in the zip codes 14201, 14213, and 14218.
Once a child is registered, they’ll receive a special package in the mail every month, each containing a carefully chosen picture book. These books are theirs to keep forever, providing a sense of ownership and personal connection to reading.
Chelsey Lonberger from the Buffalo Public Library System explains the significance of this program: “Imagine having a book at home that’s just for you, something you can reach for whenever you want. It’s different from borrowing a book from the library. Owning a book gives you a special feeling of having a story that’s always there for you, like a comforting friend.”
The Imagination Library has made a significant impact nationwide, reaching one in seven children under five years old in the U.S. Dolly Parton, the program’s founder, shared her mission: “My goal was to inspire children to love reading. What started as a local effort in my home county has grown into a global program that now provides a book a month to over 1 million children.”
Since its inception, the Imagination Library has distributed over 247 million books through nearly 3,000 local partners. In both the United States and Canada, children receive “The Little Engine That Could” as their first book and “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” when they turn five.
For those interested in signing up, the United Way has partnered with Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo to assist parents with the registration process right after birth. Follow this link for more information on how to get involved.