Brunswick officials got some unwelcome news at their March 9 city council meeting: local funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the free book program that mails monthly titles to preschoolers, has suddenly been cut. Program organizers told council United Way had pulled its local support with only brief notice, although current donations are expected to keep books flowing through the coming year. That still leaves roughly 1,447 Brunswick children, and more than 6,000 kids countywide, facing uncertainty after next year.
According to Cleveland.com, United Way of Medina County stopped covering the program’s roughly $92,000 annual local budget and gave organizers about two weeks’ notice. The move sparked a debate over whether city taxpayers should step in. Councilman Nick Hanek said he did not want the program “funded perpetually” with municipal dollars, while community members, including Brandon Lambert, called Imagination Library “one of the best programs out there.” The council did not take any formal action that night.
Minutes from the Medina County District Library show Community Action of Wayne and Medina has stepped in as the program’s fiscal agent, while library staff will manage the book ordering database as partners search for sustainable funding. Those same records note that nearly 6,000 children are enrolled countywide and that small grants and donations have been used to cover shortfalls while the transition plays out. Medina County District Library documented those operational shifts in recent trustee minutes.
How the Program Works
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sends one free, age appropriate book each month to every enrolled child from birth through age five. Families pay nothing and face no income requirements, according to the national program. Founded by Parton in 1995, the effort relies on a mix of state matching funds, local sponsorships and community donations to cover the local cost of books. ImaginationLibrary.com outlines the national model and enrollment rules.
What’s Next for Local Funding
Leaders at the council meeting were told that local sponsorships typically cost about $31 per child per year, as reported by Cleveland.com, and that United Way’s withdrawal takes roughly $92,000 in predictable support off the table. County library minutes list recent smaller gifts, including a grant from the Medina Sunrise Rotary, donations from PNC Bank and a contribution from a local Eagles lodge, and note that Community Action is organizing a grassroots fundraising push while partners explore longer term options. Medina County District Library says those donations have helped bridge immediate gaps so far.
Officials at the meeting urged local organizations to consider sponsorships, and said families interested in enrolling or checking program details can find information on the county affiliate site. County partners say their goal is to close the funding gap before the next billing cycle while working out a more permanent plan for the program’s future. Imagination Library - Medina County
