Dolly Parton celebrated expansion of the Imagination Library of Kentucky. What is it?

Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear held an event on Tuesday afternoon at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Center in Lexington to celebrate the statewide expansion of the Imagination Library of Kentucky . Dolly Parton, who started the program, was in attendance.

"She is a role model and an inspiration, not only for kids in her home state of Tennessee and in our state of Kentucky, but for the parents and the adults out there who have grown up knowing who she is from the beginning of her career," Beshear said. "Dolly Parton has always been focused on living after her community just like she is today."

What is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library?

The Imagination Library of Kentucky is a program that mails monthly books for free to children younger than 5 years old.

Dolly Parton visits Lexington: Read about the statewide expansion of the Imagination Library of Kentucky

When did Dolly Parton's Imagination Library start?

The Imagination Library started in 1995 and distributed only to children living in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton grew up.

Where is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library?

The program is currently in other states and countries, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Kentucky's library works with more than 120 local program partners with more than 120,000 children receiving free books each month. The funding for a statewide program was signed into law in 2021 by Beshear after the legislature included a 50% state-to-local program funding match in the state budget. In 2022, lawmakers and Beshear passed legislation making the library a statewide program, appropriating money in the two-year state budget.

How do I enroll in the Imagination Library?

Parents can enroll in the program through this link . After putting the zip code and city, they will be directed to the sign up page.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Dolly Parton celebrated expansion of the Imagination Library of Kentucky. What is it?