Early literacy begins well before 3- and 4-year old preschool. It begins in those memory-making moments with parent, sibling, or caregiver and child sharing a story from a favorite book. New groundbreaking research using the largest dataset conducted on shared book reading reaffirms that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library significantly strengthens early literacy skills for children across the US and five other countries, reinforcing the power of shared reading in the earliest years of life.

The international study, authored by Dr. Claire Galea, Head of Research at United Way Australia, analyzed data from more than 86,000 caregivers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. The study found that across all countries evaluated, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is linked to stronger early literacy outcomes and richer reading experiences at home. Children enrolled in the Imagination Library in the U.S. were 11 times more likely to be interested in books and 15 times more likely to join in during shared reading compared to children not in the program. Children were nearly three times more likely to demonstrate number and letter concepts compared to children not in the program.

In Lisbon and Mount Vernon, the Imagination Library is delivered locally through Friends of the Lisbon Public Library, helping ensure children have access to books during the most critical years of brain development from birth until their fifth birthday. Children enrolled in the Imagination Library receive age-appropriate, high-quality books delivered to their home every month at no cost to the family. Since 2022, 400 children in Lisbon and Mount Vernon have enrolled in the Imagination Library and over 7,000 books have been gifted. The Friends raise funds from local donors and through grants to pay the costs of monthly book mailing which is currently $31.20/child/year.

Founded by Dolly Parton in 1995 to honor her father, Dolly Parton’s award winning Imagination Library is the world’s leading early childhood book-gifting program, having gifted more than 300 million books across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.

To enroll a child or donate to our local Imagination Library program go to the Friends of the Lisbon Public Library’s website at https://www.lisbon.lib.ia.us/about/friends-library