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Athens officials hear request to fund Imagination Library; city cost estimated at about $10,000 a year
Summary
The Athens County Public Libraries requested $10,000 annually from Athens City to cover local costs for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library after the state’s current half‑funding ends in 2027; library and community speakers described enrollment, costs and outreach mechanisms.
Nick Tepe, director of Athens County Public Libraries, told the Athens City Council finance committee on Sept. 8 that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library enrolls children ages 0–5 and mails an age‑appropriate book monthly to each enrolled child. Tepe said the program costs Athens County $47,534.12 in 2024, with the state covering half; the local share that year was $23,737.21. Tepe said 1,684 children were enrolled in Athens County and that about 319 of those enrolled children live inside the city ZIP code 45701. “If the city was willing to give $10,000 every single year to the Imagination Library, that…
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