Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Logo

Thanks to strong community support, Lakes Area United Way is able to offer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program.

Imagination Library is a program offering free books to kids aged birth through 5 years of age. Studies have shown a direct correlation between the number of books in the home with early childhood literacy rates, which directly impact a child's reading ability when entering kindergarten. With Imagination Library, participating kids receive one age-appropriate book in the mail each month, and any children under 5 who reside in Crow Wing, Aitkin or Cass Counties are eligible for enrollment. While our local office pays for the program, it is free to those enrolled.

Sponsoring a child through Imagination Library is a great way to encourage early childhood literacy. Research demonstrates literacy rates at the beginning of kindergarten are strong indicators of future academic and professional success. By investing in Imagination Library, you invest in our youngest generation and our community as a whole. For only $30, you can give a child the gift of literacy by providing them with one book each month for an entire year. This donation multiplies tenfold to be a large impact on a child's future.

Please email contactus@unitedwaynow.org for more information.

If you would like to know how to more effectively read to your child, click here for Tips & Tools For Reading With Children.

Enhance the learning experience! Free coloring and activity sheets are available for select Imagination Library titles.

Thank you to the following community partners for their support of Imagination Library:

BNSF Railway Foundation

Brainerd Elks Lodge #615

Brainerd Jaycees

Brainerd Noon Rotary Foundation

Brainerd Noon Sertoma

Crow Wing Power Community Trust

Five Wings Art Council

Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative

Nisswa Lions Club

R.R. Gould Charitable Foundation

Sourcewell

To be eligible to receive Imagination Library books the child must:

  • Be under the age of five
  • The child receiving the books must live in the Lakes Area United Way service area of Cass, Crow Wing and Aitkin Counties which includes the following cities:
    • Ah Gwah Ching
    • Aitkin
    • Akeley
    • Backus
    • Baxter
    • Benedict
    • Brainerd
    • Crosby
    • Crosslake
    • Deerwood
    • Emily
    • Fifty Lakes
    • Fort Ripley
    • Garrison
    • Hackensack
    • Ironton
    • Jenkins
    • Lake Hubert
    • Laport
    • Longville
    • McGrath
    • McGregor
    • Merrifield
    • Nisswa
    • Outing
    • Palisade
    • Pequot Lakes
    • Pillager
    • Pine River
    • Remer
    • Swatara
    • Walker
  • An email is required to register online, but you will NOT be spammed
  • To ensure delivery of books, during registration please double-check to make sure you have entered your address correctly
  • If you do not have an email address we can register you by phone at 218-829-2619
  • It takes approximately two months to start receiving books. If your child does not receive a book in that third month, please email us at contactus@unitedwaynow.org
  • If you move you will need to update your address with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The Post Office will NOT forward books to your new address.
    • Click here for instructions to change your address or stop book delivery.

How long does it take to start receiving books?

Imagination Library mails out books to almost 2 million children a month. They must place book orders a month in advance to do this. Depending on when you register a child, it may take up to eight to twelve weeks for the first book to arrive. After that, the books will come every month. 

For example, if you registered a child on January 6th and were approved by Lakes Area United Way in January, you should receive your first book in March. 

I’m moving, what do I need to do?

If you move you will need to update your address with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The Post Office will NOT forward books to your new address. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that the program will be available in your new neighborhood.

  • Click here for instructions to change your address or stop book delivery.
  • If further assistance is needed, email the Lakes Area United Way at contactus@unitedwaynow.org or call 218-829-2619.

How do I know if my child was accepted into the program?

If you provide an email address with your registration, you will be notified via email when the registration is approved or entered into our system. If you do not have an email address, you will need to email the Lakes Area United Way at contactus@unitedwaynow.org or call 218-829-2619 to find out more information, but it does take 8-12 weeks for books to start arriving after approval.  

Why is this not available in my area?

Thank you for reaching out and for your support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For a program to be available in a community, there must be a local partner to cover the book and mailing costs for a specific geographic area. Lakes Area United Way only distributes books to children who live within our service area. 

 I have twins, will they always receive the same books each month?

Imagination Library books are mailed out by age group. Every child born in the same year receives the same books, appropriate for their age. Twins will receive the exact book each month. However, because the books are addressed to each child, they will both have built their own library of quality books when they graduate from the programs.

Do all children receive the same books?

Each child within an age group receives the same monthly book.

We make sure children receive an appropriate book by allocating them to an age group based on their year of birth. For example, children born in 2023 will receive board books with minimal text focusing on nurture and attachment, whereas a child born in 2018 will receive a softcover picture book, covering more complex concepts. A child enrolled from birth to their fifth birthday will build their own home library of up to 60 books. Learn more here: https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/themes-concepts/

I’m expecting, when can I sign my baby up?

Congratulations! Provided you live in the Lakes Area United Way service area, you can sign your baby up as soon as they are born.  

Are the books age-appropriate?

Yes, all books within the program are age-appropriate and are selected by early childhood experts. More information about the Book Committee can be found here.

Every child receives the same introductory welcome book, regardless of age, and the following month the age-appropriate titles will start to arrive. 

How do I get my login information?

If you registered a child online or an email address was added to your child's record upon registration, this will serve as your username. If you do not know the password, please request a new password using the New Password/Forgot Password link on the login page. If your link has expired or is invalid, you can request a new link at any time here.

How can I support this program?

Sponsoring a child through Imagination Library is a great way to encourage early childhood literacy. By investing in Imagination Library, you invest in our youngest generation and our community as a whole. For only $30, you can give a child the gift of literacy by providing them with one book each month for an entire year. This donation multiplies tenfold to be a large impact on a child's future. You can visit our donation page to support our local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program. We thank you in advance for your support!

Enroll Your Child in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library