Community Corner
Dolly Parton's Free Book Program Launches In Marin County
Children under 5 can now receive a free book every month through the Imagination Library.
MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County children under age 5 can receive a free book in the mail every month starting July 1 through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, county officials announced.
The program is now available to all eligible children living in Marin County.
"We are thrilled to be able to offer this program to our youngest residents here in Marin," said Lana Adlawan, Marin County's director of library services. "With every book delivery, we make an investment in the hearts and minds of developing readers, growing strong literacy skills right at home."
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Founded by country music icon Dolly Parton in 1995, the Imagination Library has distributed more than 300 million books to children around the world. The program currently mails more than 3 million books each month to families in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
"Marin County is now the 45th county in California to provide the program to all its youngest residents, making Dolly Parton's Imagination Library available to the more than 11,000 children under age five who call Marin County home," said Hallie Anderson, community engagement coordinator for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of California.
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Parents and caregivers can register children from birth through age 5 at no cost. Once enrolled, children receive an age-appropriate book each month until their fifth birthday.
Officials will celebrate the launch July 1 during Free Children's Day at the Marin County Fair, where families can sign up for the program and receive free books.
Additional partners include the Marin County Office of Education, Belvedere Tiburon Library and the Belvedere Tiburon Library Foundation.
Families can register online or ask library staff at any Marin County Free Library branch for assistance.
The program was made possible through a partnership between the Marin County Free Library, First 5 Marin and Friends of the Marin County Free Library
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