Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

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 Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) in Forsyth County. We have reached capacity with state funding. 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗣𝗜𝗟. 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 Parton’s Imagination Library Background

In 1995, Dolly Parton launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to benefit the children of her home county in eastern Tennessee. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s 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 family’s income.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Smart Start Partnership

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) and Smart Start are working together to get books into the hands of North Carolina’s 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.  We invite you to donate to support this initiative.