Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library that delivers free books to young children launches in Monterey County.

Monterey County is launching Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a renowned early literacy program that will provide free books each month to children from birth to age 5.

A press conference held on June 18 at the Orom Child Development Center in Salinas officially kicked off the program, featuring community speakers, storytime and opportunities for parents and outreach partners to engage with organizers.

Starting this summer, more than 34,000 young children in the county are eligible to receive age-appropriate books mailed directly to their homes, aiming to foster language development, school readiness and a lifelong love of reading.

“Reading with a young child is about the books and about connection,” says Francine Rodd, executive director for First 5 Monterey County. “When a loved one shares a story, they build language, imagination and trust. These simple moments of reading together strengthen the bond between storyteller and child while laying the foundation for healthy brain development and a love of lifelong learning.”

Launched in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has given more than 300 million free books to children across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.

The program prioritizes outreach to underserved families, including those from low-income households, English language learners, rural areas and Indigenous communities, groups that often face barriers to accessing early childhood educational resources.

This local initiative is a collaborative effort and funding led by Parton, her foundation, the State of California, First 5 Monterey County, Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Initiative, Bright Futures Education Partnership and Taylor Farms.