UNION TOWNSHIP, CLERMONT COUNTY (April 22, 2025) – Join United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the Clermont County Public Library to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Clermont County. To mark the occasion, the organizations are hosting a reception and screening of the documentary “The Library That Dolly Built” on April 29.
The Imagination Library
The Imagination Library provides a free, age-appropriate book each month to children up to age 5. As local program partners, the Clermont County Public Library and United Way of Greater Cincinnati aim to give every child the advantage of having books and reading opportunities at home. In the last five years, we have mailed more than 337,000 books to children in Clermont County.
“We know that children who grow up surrounded by books are more successful in school and that reading aloud to children at a young age has a positive impact on brain development,” said Moira Weir, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Cincinnati. “We’re proud of the impact we’re making for children and families in Clermont County.”
Books are free statewide thanks to support from the Imagination Library of Ohio and local program partners. In Clermont County, United Way splits the cost of each book with the state. Currently, 65% of eligible children are enrolled.
Drive with Dolly
Ohio recently became the second state to offer a specialty Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library license plate. With each purchase of a specialty license plate, $25 goes toward Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, specifically benefiting the local program where the plate was purchased. Each plate helps to support the cost of mailing one child’s books for an entire year.
The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library license plate can be purchased online at OPLATES.com or in person at any Ohio deputy registrar license agency.
Watch Party Details
- When: Tuesday, April 29, 5-8 p.m.
- Where: RJ Cinema (4450 Eastgate South Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45245)
- Times:
- 5 p.m. reception
- 6 p.m. program
- 6:30 p.m. screening “The Library That Dolly Built”
- Registration: uwgc.org/events
ABOUT DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 250 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Program Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five – at no cost to families. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More™.
The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
