New York is putting fresh money behind kids’ books, opening a $1 million grant competition to help bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to more corners of the state. The new pot of cash gives public libraries, school districts and nonprofits a shot at funding to sign up more young children and cover the cost of those monthly books and postage.
The state Office of Children and Family Services, or OCFS, says the awards are meant to help local partners pay ongoing costs and to jump-start chapters in places where the program does not exist yet. Only organizations that already have a formal agreement with the Imagination Library can get in on the action, and they have a long runway: applications are due April 30, 2026.
OCFS posted a solicitation on March 6 that sets aside $1,000,000 for the effort and offers individual grants from $2,000 to $50,000, covering up to 50% of a local partner’s costs, according to the New York State Contract Reporter listing on HigherGov. The notice limits applicants to public libraries, library systems, school districts/BOCES and not-for-profit organizations, and requires that they hold a Memorandum of Agreement with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. OCFS noted in a budget briefing that the $1 million was included in the state fiscal year 2025-26 enacted budget; see the agency’s media page for the budget summary.
What the program does
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sends an age-appropriate, free book every month to enrolled children from birth through their fifth birthday. Costs are shared between the Dollywood Foundation and local partners, which makes the new state grants a potentially big deal for small communities watching their budgets.
Local partners are the ones pounding the pavement: they handle enrollment, outreach and day-to-day operations within their coverage area, while the national program supplies resources and a Memorandum of Agreement to get new chapters off the ground. For background on the program and enrollment information, see Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
In a press release quoted by Hudson Valley Country, OCFS Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said, “Multiple studies have examined the positive relationship between the literacy environment in the home and children’s reading and writing skills.” The statement presents the grants as a way to widen access and give caregivers more tools to support early learning at home.
Who can apply
According to the state’s solicitation, eligible applicants are public libraries, library systems, school districts/BOCES and not-for-profit organizations. Awards can range from $2,000 up to $50,000 and may cover as much as 50% of a partner’s costs, per the state’s listing on HigherGov.
Applicants must already have a Memorandum of Agreement with the Imagination Library and, where required, be prequalified in New York’s State Financial System. The solicitation outlines what needs to go in an application, what reporting will look like and the anticipated contract period.
Local uptake and what it means
Some local money is already in play. State Assemblymember John McDonald III has directed $75,000 to the United Way of the Greater Capital Region to expand the program in Rensselaer and Albany counties, and Spectrum News reports that about 13,500 children are enrolled across the United Way’s nine-county service area. That kind of local buy-in helps new partners handle startup costs while they work to build enrollment. Parents can check availability and register children wherever the program is already active.
Organizations that want to apply can find the full solicitation and submission instructions on the New York State Contract Reporter, though registration is required. The state’s posting went live March 6, and responses are due by April 30, 2026. For additional context on the national program, visit the Imagination Library’s official site.
