Community Impact

Imagination Library

The Imagination Library Project is a literacy initiative launched by Dolly Parton and her foundation in 1996.  Through a unique partnership between the United Way, First Steps, and the seven Spartanburg County School Districts, we initiated our program in October 2001. After just a few short years, the program has touched the lives of over 17,000 young people, representing more than 30% of all eligible children in Spartanburg and Union Counties. 
 
How does the program work? 
Any registered child under the age of five living in Spartanburg or Union County receives a free age-appropriate book each month in the mail. While the DollyWood Foundation oversees the selection and delivery of the books, it is up to the local community to raise the funds.  United Way of the Piedmont serves as the primary fundraiser for the project and is charged with the responsibility of securing $30 per child per year to support program costs. 
 
How do we know the program is effective? 
Countless studies tout the relationship between early literacy and school performance.  By providing the children of our community with twelve quality, age-appropriate books each year, we seek to
  • increase children’s access to books
  • encourage parents to read more often to their children
  • support children in the development of a love for reading
  • better prepare children to begin school
A recent study of Imagination Library graduates in Spartanburg and Union Counties reveals that  81.3% read to their children more frequently, 95.9% feel their children’s love of reading is enhanced, 59.1% of parents feel their children would have access to fewer books without the program, and 93.3% feel their children are better prepared for school because of Imagination Library!
 
We need your support…
Ideally, we would like to reach 100% of our children.  We cannot make significant steps toward that goal without your help!  “Imagination Library was designed to help children dream more, learn more, care more and be more, and it is really working," says Dolly Parton.  “My dream is to expand Imagination Library all over America and all over the world.  By doing so, we are giving the gift of reading to every pre-school child.”  Donate to Imagination Library.
 
Register Your Child With Imagination Library
Anyone who lives in Spartanburg or Union Counties of South Carolina may register their children in this free program. Go to the registration link.
 
Read a local story about Imagination Library

 If you live in Cherokee County, click here for Imagination Library.