Our History

From Dolly Parton to Ashe County

Our History

From Dolly Parton to Ashe County

In 1995, Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library to provide free, high-quality books to preschool children, regardless of their family’s income. Established in Sevier County, Tennessee, the program became such a success that a national replication effort was underway five years later, and by 2003 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had mailed one million books.

Imagination Ashe was established in 2006 as a fully accredited affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Soon, 225 preschool children in Ashe County were registered in the program, and these preschoolers received their first free books from Imagination Ashe in January 2007. Since then, Imagination Ashe enrollment has more than tripled.

Since its founding, Imagination Ashe has relied on the local community for financial support, as the program receives no funding from the Dolly Parton Foundation. All donations go directly to the purchase of books, promotion of the project, and community education about the importance of early childhood literacy. Thanks to the generosity and concern of numerous local individuals, civic organizations, and businesses, Imagination Ashe has been able to provide over 100,000 books as free gifts to Ashe County preschool children over the last 18 years.

About Imagination Ashe

A free book gifting program for preschool children in Ashe County, North Carolina.

Phone: 336-384-4255
Email: info@imaginationashe.com
Address: P.O. Box 1745
Jefferson, NC 28640
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ImaginationAshe/

Register a Child

Any child from birth to five years old living in Ashe County, North Carolina, is eligible to receive free books from Imagination Ashe. Simply fill out the form on the registration page to begin receiving books for your child.

Our Mission

Imagination Ashe is a free book gifting program for preschool children in Ashe County, North Carolina. Any Ashe County child from birth to five years old is eligible for inclusion and, once enrolled, will receive one age-appropriate book each month at no cost to the family. A fully accredited affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Imagination Ashe seeks to increase literacy and promote lifelong learning and reading enjoyment.

Donate

Imagination Ashe is made possible through individual donations. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Click HERE to learn more about donating.

Resources

As part of our mission to promote a love of reading in children, Imagination Ashe has collected a variety of resources to help parents encourage their kids to read. You can find these resources by clicking HERE.