Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program sends free books once a month to kids across the country and New York state. Advocates are asking Gov. Kathy Hochul for money in the next state budget to make New York an official state for the program, which would expand access to the books to more children. 

“Reading to babies is how they build language," said Isabel Hunter, a mother. 

Every month, Isabel gets a new book in the mail for her son, Clark. She’s signed up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. It gives free books to kids from birth to 5 years old to encourage early literacy.

“So hopefully by kindergarten, he will have a lot of skills where he could be reading already or close to it," Hunter said. 

There are currently 79 Dolly Parton Imagination Library programs in New York state. In November alone, over 58,000 children will receive books through the program. But it’s costly, with the United Way of the Greater Capital Region spending around $20,000 a month. Advocates are asking for funding in the next state budget to make New York an official Dolly Parton Imagination Library State.

“What becoming a Dolly Parton Imagination Library State would do, the state right off the rip, it assumes half of those costs. So it's going to enable us to enroll more kids, go further, faster and make sure we can get more books into the hands of more children to set up families for this early childhood success," said Peter Gannon, president and CEO of the United Way of the Greater Capital Region.

This would allow organizations like the United Way to use that money for other philanthropic programs. For areas that don’t have the program, with the cost cut in half, more smaller nonprofits could afford it.

“One of the conditions of becoming a Dolly Parton Imagination Library State is that it has to be available statewide. Ten thousand dollars makes a major difference," Gannon said.