Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides a free book to every child from birth to age 5, is now available in all 92 Indiana counties.
First lady Maureen Braun led a successful fundraising effort after the GOP-led legislature cut $6 million earmarked for the program out of the state budget, signed by Gov. Mike Braun last year. He volunteered his wife to stump for funding after the funding cut.
Maureen Braun said in a video message Thursday the program was now available in all 92 counties, but the release didn’t say if her fundraising campaign was still ongoing. Originally, it spanned the 2025-27 state funding cycle.
The program serves about 140,000 children, Maureen Braun said in the video. She credited library partners across the state for boosting enrollment and said parents can sign up at imaginationlibrary.com.
“Receiving books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library fosters a love of reading and creates meaningful family memories to last a lifetime,” she said. “Early childhood literacy has a profound impact on Hoosier kids as they grow, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana is helping to build strong foundations for young Hoosiers.”
The release said Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana represented a partnership between the Dollywood Foundation, the state, the Hoosier HOPE Foundation, and local partners.
Indiana is one of 21 states that take part in the program. Parents in Lake and Porter counties can sign up their children to receive a free book each month through the Lake County Public Library and the Porter County and Westchester libraries, respectively.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
