Every Indiana county is now officially on Dolly Parton time. Today, Indiana First Lady Maureen Braun announced that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana now covers the entire state, meaning every child under age five is eligible to get a free book mailed to their home each month. State officials say the milestone caps months of coordination among state leaders, local libraries and private donors, all working toward one simple goal: making it easier for families to build reading habits long before the first day of kindergarten.
How the Imagination Library Works
The program is straightforward but ambitious. From birth through a child’s fifth birthday, the Imagination Library mails age-appropriate, high-quality books directly to families at no cost, according to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. In a video announcement, First Lady Braun said the books do more than fill shelves, explaining that “Receiving books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library fosters a love of reading and creates meaningful family memories to last a lifetime,” as reported by the Dubois County Free Press. Local program operators in each community are responsible for getting kids signed up and keeping the enrollment pipeline moving.
Funding and partners
The statewide expansion runs on a mix of public and private backing. Officials list the Dollywood Foundation, state leaders and the Hoosier HOPE Foundation among the key partners, with dozens of local libraries handling registrations in their service areas, according to WRTV. The broader push comes after budget changes removed a state match for the program last year, and Gov. Mike Braun tapped First Lady Maureen Braun to spearhead a fundraising effort so the free books would keep coming, per reporting by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. State officials say private donations raised so far have been enough to extend coverage into the remaining counties, with fundraising still underway behind the scenes.
How to sign up
Families can find out whether their child is covered and complete registration online. Parents are directed to hit “Check Availability” on the program’s main site at Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to see which local options serve their address. Libraries that joined earlier phases say families usually wait about eight to 12 weeks after enrollment for the first book to land in the mailbox, and then new titles arrive monthly, according to local reporting from 21Alive News. There is no cost to participate, though local partners are continually raising funds to cover the price of the books and postage.
Why it matters
Early literacy advocates argue that a steady stream of books at home makes it far easier for parents to build regular reading routines and boost vocabulary well before school starts. Previous coverage of Indiana’s rollout has underscored how tricky it can be to fund the program at scale, since local affiliates pick up half the per-book cost and counties have signed on at different speeds, as explained by Chalkbeat. Librarians have described statewide access as a long-sought win for both rural and urban communities that have been pushing for full coverage for years.
State officials say the expansion will roll out in phases, with local partners reaching out to families over the coming weeks. They are encouraging parents to contact their county library with questions about eligibility or timing. “We look forward to working with the Governor and First Lady, state leaders, and Local Program Partners to keep books in the hands of Indiana’s youngest learners,” the Dollywood Foundation said in a statement cited by WRTV. For now, families can head to their local library or use the national Imagination Library lookup to register and, where needed, join waiting lists as the final pieces of the statewide rollout fall into place.
