Rock Island County is one of very few Illinois counties not to currently take part in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, but that will change.
Several librarians and other community leaders gathered Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, at Quad City Botanical Center, to announce a fundraising campaign that will allow Rock Island County children (from birth to age five) to receive a free book each month through the international program.
The idea was sparked by Illinois State Sen. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island), whose family had been part of the program about 15 years ago, and he contacted Rock Island Public Library director Angela Campbell about restarting it. The Imagination Library was last sponsored by the QC United Way, and disbanded at least eight years ago. Halpin chairs the Senate Education Appropriations Committee and said he’s “so excited” about the Imagination Library’s return.
“This is a true collaboration,” Karen Lonergan, director of the Cordova District Library, said Wednesday. “There are many libraries in Rock Island County plus other organizations who are helping out, so we have a lot of people working towards this common goal. The seed was planted probably a year ago, and each time we get together we talk more about it. So it's exciting to be here today, and it's really looking like it's going to happen. So it's a good day.”
There are about 8,400 children in the county who would qualify (1,400 already have signed up for the waiting list), and Imagination Library usually gets about a 65% participation after five years, Campbell said, noting the total annual cost would be around $157,000 (when fully implemented), and the state would pay half of that.
The Dollywood Foundation would cover overhead costs of the program, and the fundraising campaign is for $36,205, to cover costs for the first two years, Campbell said. They have raised $10,000 so far.
Organizers said 12.6% of the population in Rock Island County lives in poverty.
For the free books, the state of Illinois will provide a 50% match, and work to foster the growth, development, and sustainability of programs in all counties. In each county, program partners promote the program, enroll children in their coverage area, contribute 50% of the cost for monthly books and mailing, manage the enrollee database, and conduct community outreach. Partners must be or work with a 501c3 nonprofit organization, which here is the Rock Island Public Library Foundation.
Over 343 million books have been gifted worldwide since the program inception, and it sends three million books per month to kids in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Australia.
During the Wednesday news conference announcing the fundraising campaign, Campbell read an Oct. 7 letter from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to the library foundation in support of Imagination Library.
“This beloved program delivers high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children for birth through age five at no cost to their families, helping build the early literacy foundation that can shape the child's future,” the letter said. “Dolly Parton has given families across the country the extraordinary gift of sharing books, stories, and possibility. In her spirit, Illinois has an opportunity to ensure that no child is left out simply because of where they live.
"We are making a statewide push toward full coverage, and Rock Island County is an essential part of that vision. Early literacy is not only about books; it's about stronger families, kindergarten readiness, opportunity, and the belief that every child's story matters. When a parent opens a book with a child, they are creating a moment of connection that can last a lifetime.”
“We are working closely with state and county stakeholders to identify the most effective path to full coverage and taking advantage of the state's 50% match, whether through county support, municipal participation, local philanthropy, business sponsorships, library partnerships, or a combination of approaches,” Pritzker wrote. “The goal is clear: every eligible child in Rock Island County should have the chance to receive a book each month.”
“This is the opportunity to come together for the love of Dolly, for the power of reading, and most importantly, for the children and families of Rock Island County,” Campbell said.
Library launched in 1995
“Dolly Parton started this program in 1995 in honor of her father. She would often say he was the smartest man she knew, even though he never learned to read or write,” Audra Cottrell, community engagement coordinator for the Imagination Library of Illinois, said Wednesday. “She took that love and that inspiration and started this program in her hometown in Tennessee. Thirty-one years later, Dolly's mission is still the same, which is simply to inspire a love of reading. The Imagination Library works by partnering with nonprofit organizations and the USPS to mail free brand-new age-appropriate books to children every month.
“The Dollywood Foundation covered all of the overhead costs, and the local program partners fundraised to cover the other half, while promoting the program and enrolling the children for each monthly book order,” Cottrell said, noting the Illinois Imagination Library is available in 94 counties, with seven more coming soon, including Rock Island County.
“And once launched, this will close the gap in the northwest portion of the state,” she said. “We are nearing statewide coverage, and we are committed to building a strong, sustainable program that aims to impact school readiness and future academic and mental health outcomes for our youngest children. The research shows that participants in the Imagination Library are more interested in books.
"They do read more with their family, and subsequently show stronger emergent literacy skills. We do hear from kindergarten teachers from around the world that they can tell which children have been a part of the Imagination Library due to those early literacy skills. And I really look forward to seeing the impact on your children in Rock Island County.”
“We're trying to get buy-in from each library,” Lonergan said. “I know my library personally has committed funds for this, and then each library is reaching out locally, like hyper-locally. So I'm talking to businesses in the township in my area, and that's what all the other libraries are doing too. That's part of our commitment.”
“To even do the program, you have to have a 501c3 who is responsible for the mailings and for collecting the money and for paying the invoices to the Dollywood Foundation,” Campbell said. “Our foundation at the time said they would do that with the caveat that we all work together to raise the money, because they can't raise the money just for this program. They raise money for our library.”
The libraries would do ongoing annual fundraising to maintain the program, she noted. “We'll have donation boxes. I'm hoping that the libraries will all get together and do a pretty big annual fundraiser together,” Campbell said.
“We're also hoping that there might be certain businesses that would be willing to commit to an annual donation too,” Lonergan said. “Then we'll know more what our annual goal will be, but it will be a continued fundraising effort to keep it going.”
Importance of early childhood literacy
“I don't think anyone would argue against the importance of literacy,” the Cordova library director said of the five-and-under population. “Getting books in the hands of young children is hugely important, having stories read to them. It helps with their literacy, just seeing print and seeing pictures and knowing how to handle books.
"If anyone's been in a kindergarten classroom in the first week, some children don't know how to hold a book or which direction it goes, and they're right away off to a more difficult start than those that have been read to for years," Lonergan said. "And this is an opportunity to connect with the child without technology. So there's that emotional component as well.”
“We definitely want the kids to start school ready, ready to go,” Campbell said. “Those that start with reading skills definitely do better throughout life. So we're trying to get everybody on the same page.”
Teonna Dowell, Early Head Start program director with SAL Community Services, said the program helps build communication, literacy and love of learning.
“The first three years of life are some of the most important periods of brain development. Children are at the perfect age to begin developing a love of books, language, and learning,” she said. “It is also why programs that offer early childhood education are so critical. We are doing so much more than providing education and care.”
“We encourage parents to engage their children every day, tell stories, ask questions, sing songs, and engage in meaningful conversation that supports language development,” Dowell said. “These experiences help children build confidence, curiosity, and the skills they need to become successful learners. Most importantly, early childhood education programs help children.
"We want children to share the ability to comfort, excitement, imagination, and time spent with people who love them. When children develop positive experiences with books early in life, they are more likely to become lifelong readers and lifelong learners.”
“The Imagination Library represents more than just free books. It represents opportunity,” she added. “They create the first home library they've ever had. The Imagination Library is a simple yet powerful program that ensures that every child, regardless of income or circumstance, has access to books and early literacy experiences that support school readiness. The partnership between early childhood education programs like SAL Community Services and initiatives like the Imagination Library creates a powerful combination.
“Together, we can place books into children's hands, support families as literacy champions, and help children develop language skills, confidence, and curiosity to thrive,” Dowell said. “When we invest in early literacy, we're investing in much more than reading skills. We're investing in stronger families, better educational outcomes, a more prepared workforce, and healthier communities. We're opening doors to possibilities that can last a lifetime.”
Julie Larson, CEO of YWCA Quad Cities, agreed, stating how important the first five years are to a child's development.
“Reading to a child does so much more than teach them words. It sparks curiosity, builds imagination, strengthens the bond between parents and children, and lays a foundation for success in school and beyond,” she said. “One of the things I love most about this initiative is that it helps put books directly into the hands of children regardless of their family's financial circumstances. I want to thank our library and everyone who has worked hard to bring this potential impact to our community. Now we need the community's help.
"I encourage businesses, organizations, and individuals to support this fundraising campaign so that we can get the books into the hands of our youngest readers, because every child deserves the opportunity to discover the joy of reading.”
Bianca Sierra, director of the East Moline Public Library, has children ages 18 and 19, and they still have the books they received when they took part in Imagination Library.
“Since we started quietly campaigning for the reinstitution of this program, I have heard so many similar stories about community members' children and grandchildren having participated,” she said Wednesday. “Many were really surprised to hear that this program was no longer in Rock Island County.
"As previously mentioned, there are close to 8,500 children living in 19 townships in Rock Island County, and today we are asking on behalf of them. Local libraries are advocating for our youngest members of our community.
“We are asking for support to raise $36,205 needed to start the program. We have already raised $10,000 in pledges,” Sierra said. “This number will get us started, but fundraising will be ongoing to continue to fund the program. Even if you are unable to give today, please consider supporting us at a future time because this program is here to stay. “
Nine months of work done
The collaborative effort, announced today at the Botanical Center in Rock Island, follows nearly nine months of teamwork, excitement, collaboration, and background work throughout Rock Island County. Once the money is raised, the Imagination Library can open for enrollment, closing the availability gap for families in Western Illinois. Programs are already available in Mercer, Henry, and Whiteside counties.
The Rock Island County Imagination Library startup goal launches the program for up to two years. With a total eligible population of 8,404 children under five, partner costs could reach about $77,000 per year.
Libraries operating in Rock Island County include:
● Andalusia Township Library
● Cordova District Library
● East Moline Public Library (also serving Hampton Public Library District)
● Moline Public Library, Moline
● Moore Memorial Library District, Hillsdale
● Robert R. Jones Public Library, Coal Valley
● Rock Island Public Library (also serving Milan and Blackhawk Township through the Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District)
● River Valley District Library, serving Port Byron, Rapids City, and portions of Hampton, East Moline, and Hillsdale
● Silvis Public Library
If enrolled from birth, the program delivers 60 books per child. According to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, building a home library is a known factor in increasing reading frequency. Enrolled families increase reading to three times a week, from an average of 59.7% to 85.2%. Other impacts include a 28.9% increase in readiness for kindergarten, and significantly stronger reading, math and science achievement tests from K-9th grades.
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. Dolly (the country music superstar, who died Aug. 25, 2026 at 80) envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to “Dream More, Learn More, Care More, Be More.”
The program has been widely researched and results demonstrate the positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Imagination Library.
Efforts to bring the program to Rock Island County started with a search for a 501c3 fiscal agent in February 2026. The Rock Island Public Library and its 501c3 fundraising partner, Rock Island Public Library Foundation, were approached, and after receiving approval from their respective boards, brought the project to a coalition of county-wide public library directors.
As a county-wide collaborative effort, each library will fundraise and promote the program in their respective communities.
How to sign up and donate
The program has to reach its fundraising goal first, but in the meantime, families can enter information to be notified when the program is operational. You can go to https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability, enter a ZIP code, and check “New Program Alert.”
You can donate:
● By check to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Rock Island County, P.O. Box 4723, Rock Island, IL 61201. Checks may be made payable to Imagination Library of Rock Island County.
● To donate online, visit the site https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/. Check “I would like to designate to a local program partner” and choose “IL-Rock Island County.”
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