Page Ahead Forges New Partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

In 1995, Dolly Parton started mailing free books to children in her home county in Tennessee, because she wanted every child, no matter their family’s circumstances, to grow up loving to read. That idea has grown into Imagination Library, a program now reaching children across the country, including here in Washington.

This fall, Page Ahead took on a new role in our community’s reading landscape: Local Program Partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, in both King and Spokane counties.

Imagination Library mails a free, age-appropriate book to a child’s home every month, from birth until their fifth birthday. It’s a simple idea with a big impact, and it’s one that fits naturally with what Page Ahead has done since 1990: put books directly into children’s hands.

“Page Ahead was founded 36 years ago to give books to kids, and every child deserves the chance to build a home library of their own,” said Susan Dibble, Executive Director of Page Ahead. “We’re proud to join Imagination Library of Washington’s network of partners and help make sure no family is left without access to books simply because of where they live.”

This partnership means more families across Washington will wake up to a book in the mailbox each month.  And, it’s one more way Page Ahead’s community of staff, volunteers, and partners is working to close the reading gap.

“We are beyond thrilled to have full Imagination Library book service available across King and Spokane counties once again,” said Brooke Fisher-Clark, Executive Director of Imagination Library of Washington. “We are excited to partner with Page Ahead to inspire a love of reading and bring children and families together through the joy of books.”

Families in either county can enroll a child from birth to age five at imaginationlibrarywashington.org. The program is free for families and sustained through public and private support.

Dolly passed away on August 25, 2026. All of us at Page Ahead are honored to nurture her legacy here in Washington and help carry her vision of a book in every child’s hands forward.