Arkansas Imagination library
MISSION & HISTORYMission
Arkansas Imagination Library’s mission is to early increase literacy and school readiness in Arkansas by ensuring all young children across the state may participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
We believe reading begins at birth, the benefits of a home library go far beyond the books, and parents/guardians are a child’s first and best teacher.
By providing books at no cost to families, the Imagination Library increases childhood literacy rates, fosters a love of books, and promotes a culture of reading among underserved families in high-risk communities of Arkansas.
History of the Program
Dolly Parton launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995 in her home county in East Tennessee, inspired by her father’s inability to read and write. Her vision was simple: mail one high-quality, age-appropriate book each month to every preschool child — at no cost to families.
What began as a local effort has grown into an international early literacy program serving more than 3.6 million children each month across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.
In 2005, the first Arkansas communities launched county affiliates to bring the program to children in the Natural State.
In 2017, with support from Governor Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas Imagination Library (ARIL) was established as a statewide nonprofit partner to strengthen and expand the program. Since then, ARIL has worked alongside local communities to grow from 54 to all 75 counties — increasing enrollment from 16,700 children to more than 82,000 today.
Together, we are building a culture of reading across Arkansas — one home library at a time.