March 2019 - EASTERN OREGON PARENT - 15
Dolly Parton wants to give your child some books
By MARY FINNEY
Your local library has a celebrity
booster. Dolly Parton’s Imagina-
tion Library (DPIL) is a book-gifting
program that mails free, high-
quality books to children from birth
through four years old. Kids receive
their last book when they reach
their fifth birthday.
After being launched in 1995,
the program grew quickly. At first,
books were only distributed to
children living in Sevier County,
Tennessee, where Dolly grew up. It
became such a success that in 2000
the program decided to go national.
By 2003, Dolly Parton’s Imagina-
tion Library had mailed one million
books.
It would prove to be the first
of many millions of books sent to
children around the world. Dolly’s
home state of Tennessee pledged
(Standing, center) Lori Wyman presents a $2000 grant check from Pacific
Power Foundation to Erin McCusker (left) and Mary Finney (right),
surrounded by potential DPIL book recipients.
to pursue statewide coverage in
2004 and soon global expansion
was on the horizon. After becoming
established in the United States,
the program launched in Canada in
2006, followed by the United King-
dom in 2007, and Australia in 2013.
When the Umatilla County Spe-
cial Library District (UCSLD) brought
the concept of the DPIL program
to the district library directors
last year, Pendleton Public Library
thought it was a worthy project to
take part in. The program encourag-
es reading and ownership of books
for children, even if they are not
active library users. Because having
a book of your own is infrequent in
low-income families, this program
appealed to me. Add to that the
fact that children love to receive
mail and it seemed like a win-win
program.
The cost of sponsoring a child
for one year is $25. Local champi-
ons who supply funding can be
private parties, businesses, or
civic organizations. So far, most
contributions have been from
interested individuals. The DPIL
purchases the books wholesale
and arranges the shipping. Any
child living in the 97801 mailing
area can be sponsored through
the Pendleton Friends of the
Library. Sponsors do not have
to live in the Pendleton area,
although the child being spon-
sored does.
Dolly Parton was adamant
that a child’s parents not feel
obligated to provide the money.
The program stipulates that ap-
plication forms not be located
close to the sponsorship forms.
Pendleton Public Library’s spon-
sorship forms are at the front
desk and the applications are in
the Children’s Area. Already, there
are 20 children signed up for Pend-
leton’s program and we can spon-
sor many more. Applications are
granted on a first come, first served
basis as long as there is supporting
funding available.
The DPIL program is also avail-
able in Stanfield, Echo, and Weston;
donations from Walmart and Altru-
sa of Hermiston have already come
in for those areas. Check with the
public libraries in those communi-
ties for more details. In the Pendle-
ton area, information regarding the
program is available at Pendleton
Public Library or by calling UCSLD at
541-276-6449.
Is there anyone special you’d like
to sponsor?
________
Mary Finney recently retired as the
director of the Pendleton Public
Library.