Rep. Mason Applauds Funding for Dolly Parton Imagination Library

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is encouraging all Illinois parents of children ages 0-5 to sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, regardless of the family’s income.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to kickstart a child’s love for reading,” Rep. Mason said. “We know that having access to books at home can influence a variety of life outcomes, including reading proficiency and income level in adulthood.” 

The statewide launch of Illinois’ partnership with the Dollywood Foundation was announced Tuesday. The state will provide $1.6 million to the project in order to support early childhood learning and encourage life-long reading habits, Governor JB Pritzker announced at the launch held at the Bloomington Public Library.

As Chairperson of the Childcare Accessibility and Early Childhood Education Committee, Rep. Mason is a champion of literacy access for young children, and regularly hosts “Read with your Rep” programs at local libraries and daycare centers.

“I encourage all parents to sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which is a wonderful way to influence reading in kids,” said Mason. “Reading with our children from birth on is fun, and can make a huge difference in language and social skills development.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is currently active in areas across 40 counties in Illinois and is expected to soon cover the entire state fully. To check to see if a program is available in your area, visit the ‘find my program’ page on www.imaginationlibrary.com. You can enroll your child or sign up to be notified when a program comes to your community.