Imagination Library

Imagination Library was started in 1996 by Dolly Parton. The program provides registered children a new book each month from the month of birth until their fifth birthday.

Every 0-5 year old child living in St. Clair County is eligible to register for Imagination Library.

Once your child is enrolled, he or she will receive one book per month until his/her fifth birthday. Each child will receive the first book in the mail approximately 8-10 weeks after enrollment. The books children receive are specifically chosen by a panel of early childhood specialists and are determined by the Imagination Library Program.

The goals of the Imagination Library in St. Clair County are:

• Increase access to books in the home
• Increase literacy activities in the home
• Increase positive parent/child interaction
• Increase kindergarten readiness

These goals will be measured by a survey sent to parents with children enrolled in the program.

• Child resides in St. Clair County
• Fill out the registration form or call (810)455-4015.
• If you move, fill out the change of address form.
• READ WITH YOUR CHILD!

If you live in St. Clair County and have a child between the ages of 0 and 5 years old you can fill out a registration form or call (810) 455-4015. Children graduate from the program on their 5th birthday.

The Imagination Library in St. Clair County is funded through St. Clair County RESA, the United Way of St. Clair County, and other local donors. The program costs approximately $25 per child per year. That's just over $2 a book.

• $25 gives one child a book a month for one year
• $125 gives one child a book a month for five years

Your financial support will help us keep this program going and help bring literacy to the lives of children in St. Clair County.

Make an online donation

Mail your check to:
St. Clair County RESA
Imagination Library
499 Range Road
Marysville, MI 48040

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) has partnered with American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH) to make many of the wonderful books in her program, available in braille and audio format so that young blind and visually impaired children can also benefit from these wonderful children’s books.

Visit Imagination Library's website for more information.

My child's books have stopped coming. What can I do?
Have you moved? Books cannot be forwarded with other mail through the post office. Addresses must be updated in the Imagination Library system. Please click here to fill out the form online or contact (810) 455-4443.

My children are receiving the same books, can I change this?
Children are sent books based on their age. Twins and children born in the same year will receive the same book each month. Younger siblings may receive the same book an older sibling has received. This happens occasionally and is a great time to teach children to look at their name on the back of the book and use the duplicates to let each child hold a book while reading at night.

How can I extend my child's learning?
On the back of every book is a mailing label with:

1. The child's name. Children can see their name everyday. Practice reading and spelling their name before kindergarten.

2. The child's address. Children can learn their address before entering kindergarten.

3. The month the book was sent. Children can work on the months of the year, the season the months in and the month of their birthday.