About
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) of West Virginia is a book gifting program that delivers a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book per month to children from birth to 5 years of age, providing a 60-volume home library promoting early literacy, school readiness, family engagement, and academic success. Started in Sevier County, Tennessee by Dolly Parton in 1995, the program has since grown to an international initiative that sends three million books per month to children all over the world. West Virginia is one of 20 states nationwide that boasts statewide availability, serving all zip codes in all counties, and is managed by the June Harless Center for Rural Education Research and Development at Marshall University. Since 2006, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has mailed over 5 million books to the children of WV.
DPIL Launched in Monongalia County on May 23, 2018, and is available to any child from birth to five with a Monongalia County Address. The program has had a standing presence in Preston County.
Sign Up | Donate
You can also give the gift of reading and get a certificate to present to your loved one here!
Funding
Funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Monongalia County is provided in part by our United Way Affinity Group, Women United, matched by Marshall University’s June Harless Center, with administrative support from the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. Anyone interested in supporting the program should scroll down to read about our Creating Readers to Raise Leaders section. Below is an infographic that demonstrates the United Way's role as a "Local Champion" of the program.
Sign Up
Signing up for the program is free and available to Monongalia and Preston County residents. If you do not reside in Monongalia or Preston Counties but in another West Virginia county, you can still sign up as the program now provides books to registrants in all 55 counties in the Mountain State.
Sign up here!
If you have any questions about signing up, contact Family Resource Network Manager at frn@unitedwaympc.org or call 304-296-7525
Save the date! Power of the Purse is June 19, 2025!
Creating Readers to Raise Leaders
Donations to Creating a Reader to Raise Leaders is a fundraiser of United Way of Monongalia Counties' affinity group, Women United. Your donation helps children across Monongalia County build necessary literacy skills by receiving books through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The cost per child is $31 per year or $155 to sponsor a child’s full 5-year enrollment. With your donation, you also have the option to join the Women United affinity group.
Donate Here
Family Engagement
Monthly Book Activity Sheets are designed by literacy specialists to supplement each of the Imagination Library book deliveries to maximize learning and promote family engagement!