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Berkeley County asked to fund Imagination Library after new enrollments paused
Summary
Marshall University’s June Harless Center asked the county to help sustain Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Berkeley County after the program paused new enrollments because of postage and funding shortfalls; presenters outlined local enrollment, per‑child costs, and options including opioid settlement funds.
Jamie Lymer, state director at Marshall University’s June Harless Center, told the Berkeley County Commission on Feb. 20 that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has delivered free, age‑matched books to thousands of local children but has paused new enrollments here because of a growing funding gap.
Lymer said the program mails a high‑quality book to enrolled children each month from birth through age 5 and cited program research and endorsements used to support its impact claim. "It's more than just books for kids," Lymer said, describing research the presentation attributed to the Dollywood Foundation and other partners.
Why it matters: Lymer asked the commission to consider a local contribution to sustain currently enrolled children and to allow the program to reopen new enrollments. She said the county has roughly 3,700 children enrolled in the program and about 2,050…
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