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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in New Mexico

Timeline 2010-2024

IMALIBRNM
  • 1995

    1995

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

  • 2000

    2000

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

  • 2004

    2004

    State-wide coverage was established in Tennessee.

  • 2010

    2010

    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.

  • 2013

    2013

    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.

  • 2015

    2015

    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.

  • 2016

    2016

    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.

  • 2017

    2017

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

  • 2018

    2018

    Quay and Colfax counties formed independent affiliates.

  • 2019

    2019

    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.

  • 2020

    2020

    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.

  • 2021

    2021

    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.

  • 2022

    2022

    Cibola and Guadalupe counties formed affiliates.

  • 2023

    2023

    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.

  • 2024

    2024

    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.

BOOKS

IMAGINATION LIBRARY
GRANT COUNTY

2022 imaginationlibrarygc.org

First American Bank
1609 N Swan Street, Suite C,
Silver City, NM 88061

Mailing Address: PO BOX 513, Silver City, NM 88062

(575) 519-4464