History of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library

In 1996, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee. Dolly's vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by giving them the gift of a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes, she wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could ensure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income. Click here for the official Imagination Library website.

In 2009, the United Way of Greater St. Louis awarded the Lincoln County R-III School District $25,000 to start Dolly's Imagination Library in the community and graciously funded DPIL through 2021. In 2022, the LCR3 School District took on the task of finding funds to continue this program. The Imagination Library sends more than 1,000 books monthly to preschool children in our community. 

How you can help support DPIL

The first LCR3 Imagination Celebration is being held on September 10, 2022. Join us for this free, family-friendly event at Main Street Elementary from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Sponsors of this event help to fund the program for the following year. Donations for DPIL will be accepted at the event or delivered to the Lincoln County R-III School District Finance Office or the Early Childhood Education Center throughout the year. You can also donate online; click here.

How it works 
Children living within the boundary of the Lincoln County R-III School District can sign up for the FREE program. Children must be from birth to the age of five. Once enrolled, children will receive an age-appropriate book each month in the mail. The child will keep receiving books until their fifth birthday. To sign up for Dolly Parton Imagination Library, call our Early Childhood Education Center at 636-462-3020. Enrollment forms can also be picked up at the Early Childhood Education Center or Central Office or registered online.