In 1996, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort to benefit the children of her home county in east Tennessee. Dolly wanted to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. She wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could ensure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income. Today, the program mails over 1 million books every month, and have dramatically increased literacy rates all over the globe. Together with Grace Place for Children and Families, and Collier County Public Libraries, United Way of Collier County chose this incredible program to provide every child the opportunity to grow.

Children in participating communities can enroll in the program from the day they are born. Once they’re signed up, they receive a new, age-appropriate book through the mail each month until their fifth birthday. In order for a child to be eligible, his/her community must have a local sponsor committed to covering the books and mailing costs, in addition to managing and promoting the program at the local level. In our service area, only children who live in the 34116 zip code are currently eligible to register for the program.

All children from birth to 5 years of age who live in the 34116 zip code are eligible to receive books.

The United Way of Collier County has been working with a wide variety of early child education providers and was able to determine that the 34116 was a prime location for our pilot program to help improve kindergarten readiness. We are planning to expand the program after a successful launch in 34116.

There is no cost to the families who receive books. Books are paid for by donations from people in Collier County. You can make a donation online or you can honor friends or family by making a donation in their name. Click here for more information.

The Imagination Library costs on average $36 a year per child. In addition to the cost of books and mailing, we are also required to purchase registration brochures and cover all administrative costs, which includes database maintenance. The United Way of Collier County covers all administrative costs, which allows 100% of every donation to go directly toward the purchase and mailing of books.

There is a national committee of individuals who meet each year to review The Imagination Library book selection. New titles are introduced each year so younger siblings will not receive the exact same books as their older siblings. In addition, as the program grows, more quality books are available for inclusion.

Educators and researchers all over the world have identified that reading with your preschool children is the single most important activity to prepare a child for school.

If you live in the 34116 zip code, you can register online, in person or download a registration form. Complete the form and mail it to the address on the form or email it as an attachment to DPIL@uwcollier.org.

The first book typically arrives eight to ten weeks after a child's enrollment form has been activated. The books are ordered on the 1st of each month for delivery by the last week of the following month. For example, if your enrollment was activated before 5:00 p.m. on June 1st, you will receive your first book by the last week of July. However if your enrollment was activated after 5:00 p.m. on June 1st, you would roll over to the July 1st order for delivery of your first book by the last week of August. In other words it may take up to 10 weeks before you receive your first book. After that time, the books will arrive each month.

As long as you and your family will still reside in the 34116 zip code, your child can continue to receive books from our Imagination Library program. However, you need to change the address we have on record and also notify the United States Postal Service. If you are moving out of our service area, you may still continue to receive books if your new zip code is part of a currently operating area. When you update your address, you will automatically be transferred into the program in your new location if that area has an Imagination Library program. If you move into an area where there is not a community partner sponsoring the Imagination Library, your child will no longer receive books.