New York is purchasing books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to give to children younger than 5, honoring the late country music legend’s enduring commitment to childhood literacy.
The state Office of Children and Family Services is looking for two nonprofit partners through “solicitations of interest.” Eligible applicants include school districts, hospitals and other not-for-profit organizations that would help buy and distribute books through Parton’s Imagination Library.
Under the initiative, the state will cover half of the costs, up to $50,000 for each award, to purchase the books. It will also pay mailing expenses so eligible children through age 5 can receive one book every month.
Selected applicants would be responsible for paying the remaining share of the costs.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library covers administrative expenses and uses its scale to negotiate lower prices with children’s book publishers.
The beloved superstar died at age 80 on Aug. 25 following a short battle with cancer.
Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995 for children in her home county in Tennessee, inspired in part by her father’s illiteracy. The program later grew across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland with government support.
New York’s emphasis on literacy has drawn interest from hospitals as well. According to state awards issued in March, hospitals have sought to provide Imagination Library books to the parents of newborns.
“I am considering applying for your Solicitation of Interest for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, on behalf of a children’s hospital. I envision enrolling every child delivered at our hospital and admitted to the Mother-Baby Unit within the one-year time frame,” one bidder wrote.
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To take part, winning applicants must sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
According to the Parton website, 332.4 million books have been distributed to kids since its inception.
Nearly 3.2 million kids are currently registered to receive books.
One in six children in the US have received books from the Parton Library.
About 170,000 New York children receive monthly books from the library, said state Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester), who has annually pushed for state grants to help pump funding into Parton’s Imagination Library program.
“Dolly’s impact extends far beyond her musical talent, with her Imagination Library providing free monthly books to over 170,000 children in New York, supporting childhood literacy and bringing joy to families,” Cooney said amid a push to make Sept. 25 in New York Dolly Parton Day.
On her website, Parton said the children’s library may be her greatest legacy beyond all her success as an award-winning singer and entertainer.
“Before he passed away, my Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done,’’ Parton wrote.
“I can’t tell you how much that meant to me because I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my Daddy.
“He was the smartest man I have ever known but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams,” Parton said.