Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
REGISTRATION CURRENTLY CLOSED
NC Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) Updates
As of February 1, 2025, The Smart Start Network will no longer accept NEW registrations for Dolly Partonโs Imagination Library (DPIL) in Forsyth County. We have reached capacity with state funding. ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ฃ๐๐. Check this page for the latest status of state-funded DPIL registrations in North Carolina. We stand committed to early childhood literacy. If you would like to support this initiative, we invite you to donate.
Dolly Partonโs Imagination Library Background
In 1995, Dolly Parton launched Dolly Partonโs Imagination Library to benefit the children of her home county in eastern Tennessee. Dollyโs vision was to foster a love of reading among her countyโs preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes, she wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could ensure that every child would have books, regardless of their familyโs income.
Dolly Partonโs Imagination Library and Smart Start Partnership
Dolly Partonโs Imagination Library (DPIL) and Smart Start are working together to get books into the hands of North Carolinaโs youngest children through funding provided by the North Carolina General Assembly. During the 2017 legislative session, North Carolina state lawmakers included $3.5 million in the first year of the budget and $7 million in the second year for the Smart Start network to offer free books through DPIL to children across the state. DPIL is a program created to foster a love of reading among children from birth to age five through the gift of a specially selected book delivered right to their home each month.
In Forsyth County, over 12,000 children actively participate in DPIL.ย ย We invite you to donate to support this initiative.
Share Your Dolly Parton’s Imagination Story!

If your family has participated in DPIL or is currently receiving DPIL books, consider sharing your story with us! You can do so here.
These personal testimonials and pictures help Smart Start of Forsyth County demonstrate DPILโs value.