News

January 22, 2025:

United Way of the Southern Tier is proud to announce that, as of today, a total of 300,000 books have been sent to local children enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

“In September 2018, our first month with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, 395 books were sent to local children,” said Maleaha Smith, President of United Way of the Southern Tier. “This month, 4,635 young children across Chemung and Steuben counties will receive a free book in the mail through the Imagination Library program.”

Since 2018, the program has grown to reach more than half of all young children in our community. Any child under age 5 in Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben or Yates counties can be enrolled in the Imagination Library, regardless of family income. All books are provided at no cost to families.

Donations pay for the high-quality, age-appropriate books to be mailed each month. The cost to mail a book is $2.60 a month, or just over $31 a year per child.

Corporations, including Eaton, Hilliard Foundation, Kennedy Valve, Siemens Energy, and Williams Auto Group, as well as individuals, foundations, and community groups continue to support United Way’s chapter of the Imagination Library.

The Dollywood Foundation annually contributes several million dollars to make the Imagination Library available worldwide. The foundation manages a secure, centralized book ordering system, coordinates book selections, and negotiates wholesale purchasing and mass printing. The Foundation also incurs the program’s administrative and overhead costs and coordinates the monthly book mailing. This keeps local program costs down to only books, mailing and local administrative expenses.

"Dolly Parton says you can’t get too many books in the hands of children, and we wholeheartedly agree,” said Smith. “We are proud of our community’s commitment to literacy and our shared vision to empower the next generation of young learners.” 

United Way’s chapter of the Imagination Library has reached more than 10,000 local children since 2018. 

To register a child for free books or check availability in your area, visit the Imagination Library website. 

For more information about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, email United Way of the Southern Tier or call 607-936-3753.

For more information, please contact United Way Director of Communications and Community Engagement Lois Wilson by email or at 607-377-5834.