Capital County seeks funding to launch Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for local children

The Town of Tazewell Town Council meeting on December 10, 2024, spotlighted a compelling initiative aimed at enhancing early childhood literacy through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Erica Holloway, Executive Director of the Texas County Program Library, along with youth services librarian Lisa, passionately advocated for the program's introduction in Tazewell County, which currently lacks access to this valuable resource.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, established in 1995, sends a free, age-appropriate book each month to children under five, fostering a love for reading from an early age. Holloway emphasized the program's significance, noting that it addresses barriers many families face in accessing books, particularly in economically challenged areas. "Currently, there are families that are having to decide between eating well and heating well," she explained, highlighting the dire choices some parents must make.

The program not only promotes literacy but also aims to ensure that every child, regardless of their family's financial situation, has books in their home. Holloway shared a poignant story of a child who longed for books but couldn't check them out from the library due to transportation issues. "If the Dolly Parton Imagination Library had been in place, he would have had 60 books in his home by the age of 5," she stated.

To implement the program in Tazewell County, local funding is essential. Holloway outlined a cost estimate, projecting an initial investment of around $1,000, increasing to just under $8,000 over five years, with the state of Virginia matching half of the funds raised. The council was urged to consider this investment as a critical step toward nurturing the minds of future generations.

As the meeting concluded, the council members were left with a powerful message: investing in the Imagination Library is not just about books; it's about ensuring that every child in Tazewell County has the opportunity to succeed from their very first day of school.