Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in New Mexico

Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee.

National replication allowed more and more communities to adopt the program.

State-wide coverage was established in Tennessee.

Retired educators, Barbara and Loren Nelson started the Imagination Library of Grant County (ILGC) and placed the first book order for 8 children living in Bayard, NM.

ILGC delivers books to 80% of children aged 0-4 in Grant County, NM. ILGC became the fiscal sponsor for affiliates in Curry, Harding, Catron, Hidalgo, and Luna counties, serving over 2000 children, approximately half of the 4100 children in New Mexico.

Led by State Senator Howie Morales, the New Mexico legislature allocated $100,000 to the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to support a statewide early literacy initiative. CYFD chose to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.

ILGC and Region 5 of the Council of Governments (COG) developed a process to reimburse Imagination Library affiliates in New Mexico up to 50% of book invoice costs. Hidalgo and Luna counties formed independent affiliates.

ILGC established the New Mexico Imagination Library Steering Committee, representing 7 COG regions and tribal lands in New Mexico. ILGC and The Dollywood Foundation (DWF) signed an MOU, agreeing to work together towards a statewide program. Lincoln and Taos counties formed affiliates.

ILGC supported new affiliates in Los Alamos, Sierra, Socorro, Eddy, Lea, and Bernalillo counties.

Quay and Colfax counties formed independent affiliates.

Representative Cathrynn Brown allocated an extra $50,000 in FY 2020 for the CYFD Early Literacy program, listed on Page 47 of House Bill 548. San Miguel, Mora, Torrance, Roosevelt, DeBaca, and Union counties formed affiliates.

Governor Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Legislature created the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD). Valencia, McKinley, and San Juan counties formed affiliates.

The Early Literacy contract moved to ECECD from CYFD. The fiscal year budget increased to $309,375 due to program growth. Chaves County formed an affiliate.

Cibola and Guadalupe counties formed affiliates.

ECECD increased the Early Literacy 4-year contract budget to $2.9 million ($660,000 for FY 2024), with a goal to serve 30,000 children in FY 2024, and 36,000 by FY 2027. Sandoval County formed an affiliate. All 33 New Mexico counties now have at least one affiliate.

ILGC opened coverage for all New Mexico zip codes, establishing statewide registration for all children aged 0-4, regardless of family income or zip code.