A New Jersey lawmaker wants to make sure every child under five in the state can get a free book in the mail each month, just like millions of kids already do through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Assembly Bill A5518, introduced September 17, would allocate $2 million to launch a statewide version of the beloved literacy program inside the state Department of Education.
A Statewide Fix For A Patchwork Program
Assembly Bill A5518, sponsored by Assemblyman Bill Moen (D-Camden), was formally introduced September 17 and referred to the Assembly Education Committee, according to LegiScan. The proposal would place a statewide Imagination Library program in the Department of Education’s early childhood education division and allow any New Jersey child under five to enroll for a free monthly book, the New Jersey Monitor reported. The program currently operates through four organizations covering three counties.
Independent affiliate First Library formerly served up to 16 New Jersey counties.
How The Money Would Work
Under the bill, the $2 million appropriation would seed a dedicated, non-lapsing New Jersey Imagination Library Fund managed by the Department of Education, according to BillTrack50. The fund is structured to accept both future legislative appropriations and private or public donations, and the bill separately creates a mechanism for private donations to flow into the program. Per New Jersey Monitor, the state's early childhood education division would partner with a national literacy program — potentially Dolly Parton's organization or a college — that could cover at least half of the total program cost.
A 50/50 funding model is used in California.
Reading Scores Add Urgency
The push comes as New Jersey grapples with troubling elementary reading data. Statewide testing released in September shows roughly half of the state's third graders failed to reach grade-level proficiency on New Jersey's standardized English Language Arts assessment, according to Chalkbeat. Chalkbeat reported continuing post-pandemic literacy concerns.
Moen told the New Jersey Monitor that conversations with lawmakers in states that had launched their own programs helped inspire the proposal. He said the proposal would help close the achievement gap earlier.
Library Advocates Weigh In
Brett Bonfield, executive director of the New Jersey Library Association, told the New Jersey Monitor that some residents face challenges getting to a library and that a statewide program could help put books directly into children’s hands.
Every child enrolled in the Imagination Library receives a customized copy of “The Little Engine That Could” as their first book, followed by monthly deliveries through age five that conclude with “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” according to the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library book list. Since Parton launched the program in 1995, the organization has mailed more than 290 million free books and now delivers over 3 million per month across five countries, reaching roughly 1 in 6 American children under five.
A National Wave Since Parton's Death
Dolly Parton died in Nashville in August at age 80 after being diagnosed with cancer. Dollywood’s August 25 statement referred to her passing. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 931 on September 20; the measure establishes September 25 as an annual state Dolly Parton Day, according to the California State Senate. New Jersey’s A5518 would create a statewide program.
What the tributes establish
Dollywood’s August 25, 2026, statement referred to Parton’s passing and said people wishing to honor her could consider donating to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, according to Dollywood Parks & Resorts. The California Senate account cited above describes SB 931 as establishing September 25 as an annual state Dolly Parton Day.
