Cortland’s Imagination Library Hits Milestone

Perhaps you’ve seen Dolly Parton on TV in recent months celebrating the Imagination Library’s milestone of having gifted 200 million books worldwide. Locally, we have our own milestone to celebrate as well: Cortland’s Imagination Library’s has gifted 50,000 books to over 2,000 young children!

Since rolling out Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in December 2015, both family interest and community support have been phenomenal. Parents have been so appreciative of the opportunity to participate in this program. As of this month, a total of 2,000 children under the age of five who live in zip code 13045 have been registered for the program.

None of this would be possible without the broad support we’ve received from the community. While there is no cost to participating families, we do have to pay our local share of the book and mailing costs. Thanks to 128 individual donors, 11 local businesses, and 15 organizations, we have been able to grow and maintain this program over the last eight years.

This program is all about fostering a love of reading and learning at an early age—and it’s working! Parents are learning that it is never too early to start reading to their child. Children and their parents are making reading part of their daily routine and looking forward to this family bonding time. Children are developing early literacy skills and becoming more “kindergarten-ready, stimulating their imaginations, and learning about different places and cultures, and kindness towards others.

50,000 books in the hands of young readers; 2000 kids excited about reading; eager and appreciative parents; a caring and generous community. This is truly something we can all celebrate!

You can read more about the Imagination Library, including FAQs, the Cortland affiliate’s 2023 Annual Report Infographic, and parent feedback at cortlandfreelibrary.org/imagination-library.

Contributing Author: Vivian Bosch, Administrator, Cortland’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library & Volunteer, Cortland Free Library