Expansion Of Imagination Library Celebrated
Advancing her initiatives as Montana’s first lady, Susan Gianforte has announced the progress of her statewide expansion of the Imagination Library of Montana in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The non-profit program boosts early childhood literacy by providing free high-quality, age-appropriate books to Montana children.
“It is exciting to see how Imagination Library continues to spread across Montana and inspire a love of reading in our state’s youngest readers,” Gianforte said. “Our local partners have done a fantastic job helping families get enrolled and spreading the word that this program is available to all Montana children up to age 5.”
Last June, the first lady joined Parton in announcing the statewide expansion of Imagination Library in Montana. Through the partnership, Parton’s Imagination Library provides a free book each month to any Montana child, up to age five, who is registered with the organization. A child may be registered at imaginationlibrary. com.
Prior to launching the initiative, the program was only available in some Montana counties and approximately 9,500 Montana children were enrolled. Today, Imagination Library of Montana has 63 local program partners in all 56 counties serving nearly 24,000 of the state’s eligible children.
Montana is the 16th state to achieve statewide coverage of the program.
The program 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 Parton’s Imagination Library.
Boosting literacy to empower more Montana children and promoting and expanding access to STEM education, particularly for girls and students in our rural communities, are the first lady’s chief initiatives.
