Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Delivered to Your Pittsburgh Door

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In August 2026, Reading Ready Pittsburgh joined people around the world in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, whose extraordinary legacy of music, generosity, and compassion includes a decades-long commitment to ensuring that children grow up with books in their homes. 

That Legacy Continues in Pittsburgh, and You Can Be Part of It

Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Dolly transformed a simple idea — mailing free books directly to young children — into a global early-literacy movement. Locally, that impact has been profound: more than 460,000 books have been provided to children in Pittsburgh and the Mon Valley through the program. 

In summer 2026, the City of Pittsburgh and Reading Ready Pittsburgh (RRP) teamed up to increase local enrollment, aiming to reach all eligible participants in Pittsburgh, some 14,000 children. Over the next five years, these children will collectively receive up to half a million high-quality books. That’s enough books to cover the entire floor of PPG Paints Arena, stacked nearly six feet high. If you have a child under five, your family could help achieve this goal.

How It Works

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) mails a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book every month to each enrolled child, from birth to age 5 — that’s a total of up to 60 books! DPIL is made possible through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local communities. The Dollywood Foundation covers some overhead costs and administrative programs. The local groups, like RRP, secure funding from local foundations, corporations, and donors for books and postage. The local affiliates also head enrollment and outreach activities.

Who Can Enroll?

Any child under five in the area covered by RRP can enroll. Enrollment is completely free. There are no household income requirements, and it only takes a couple of minutes to sign up. Families can check their eligibility and register at this link: https://www.readingreadypittsburgh.org/dpil 

Children can start receiving books as early as the month of their birth. They can also be enrolled at any point up to a couple of months before their fifth birthday.  

Peter (dad), Angelina (mom), and children Kiara Gianna and Isaiah Lemaire read together. (photo credit: Leah Johns)

Why Enroll?

Language acquisition begins in infancy, before babies even say their first words. The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends that parents read aloud daily to their babies starting at age six months. Research consistently shows that books in the home are among the strongest predictors of academic success. 

An international study by The Dollywood Foundation found that after receiving just 10 books through the program, children were at least four times more likely to demonstrate strong emerging literacy skills. 

Add to that: kids love it. 

Every month, enrolled children receive a package addressed to them, with their very own book inside. This is an invitation to slow down for a moment in our busy lives and enjoy reading together — delivered right to your door.