Funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library expected to remain intact in final state budget

The final draft of Kentucky’s two-year budget is expected to keep funding intact for the state’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library branches.

The program mails free books for children from birth until five years old, regardless of family income. Imagination Library leaders say more than 138,000 children across Kentucky receive books from the program.


A state Senate proposal for the upcoming two-year budget would have cut funding for the programs, with the state covering one-third of the cost of book orders instead of half. Local branches would have covered the rest.


Imagination Library leaders said the change in formula would have caused around 80% of their branches to shut down. The state has matched the amount branches spend on book orders since 2021.


Sen. Christian McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights), the chair of the Senate’s Committee on Appropriations and Revenue, said the final draft of the budget would keep the state’s funding formula as-is during a Monday budget committee meeting.


“The full funding with the existing match of 50% is in the budget relative to that, also with additional language trying to increase the participation for low-income and foster care communities,” he said.


State Imagination Library Director Libby Suttles said in a statement that she was grateful for the decision.


“We are so grateful to our lawmakers for restoring our funding match and providing early literacy impact by recognizing enrollment opportunities for children, ages birth through five, who need the program most,” Suttles said. “We will work harder than ever to partner with them in every way possible in the future.”


Once the proposed budget is finalized this week, it will be sent to the governor for his approval.