First Lady Gianforte Announces Imagination Library of Montana Statewide Expansion

Partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will provide free books to children from birth to age five in every zip code

HELENA, Mont. – Advancing her initiatives as Montana’s first lady, Susan Gianforte today announced the launch of the Imagination Library of Montana statewide program in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to boost early childhood literacy by providing free high-quality, age-appropriate books to Montana children.

“Literacy is critical for our kids and their development. When parents read to their kids or when a child reads, it engages them, it fires their imagination, and sparks their curiosity,”

First Lady Susan Gianforte said. “The partnership between the Treasure State Foundation, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and local organizations throughout communities in Montana is about making sure every Montanan has access to reading resources so they can dream, grow, and reach their full potential.”

The Treasure State Foundation is partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which provides a free book each month to any child, ages 0 to 5 years old, who registers. The partnership is a statewide effort and will assist programs already in place while also expanding programs statewide to every zip code in all 56 counties in Montana.

“I’m so excited to be launching my Imagination Library statewide in Montana! I want to send my very special thanks to First Lady Susan Gianforte for her partnership in making this amazing gift available to children and families across the state,” Dolly Parton said.

The Treasure State Foundation, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 2021 by First Lady Susan Gianforte to ensure future First Spouses in Montana can promote the public good with their causes.

Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Program Partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to enrolled children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.

The program has been widely researched and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Boosting literacy to empower more Montana children and promoting and expanding access to STEM education, particularly for girls and students in our rural communities, are the first lady’s chief initiatives.

For more information, or to register a child, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.