The Local Girl 
When country music star Dolly Parton died in August 2026, many people noted her work to support children’s literacy. Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library, an international program to give children age-appropriate books from birth until age 5. It was famously started in honor of her father, who didn’t know how to read. New Jersey Assemblyman Bill Moen (D-Camden) has introduced a bill that would create a New Jersey Imagination Library program within the state Department of Education to serve students throughout the state. Read on for more about the proposal to create an Imagination Library here in New Jersey.
About the Bill
The Imagination Library was founded in 1995 and partners with local organizations, often libraries and other literacy-focused nonprofits, to connect children with free books. The books are free and arrive by mail each month until the child turns 5. The Dollywood Foundation administers the overall program, which includes working with literacy experts to pick age-appropriate books. Over 3 million books per month are sent to children around the world, according to the program.
The local partners buy the books, register children, and promote the program locally. Currently, there are four New Jersey counties that support the Imagination Library.
The bill would see the program expanded to a statewide effort, with funding coming directly through the state Department of Education’s early education division. The bill proposes a $2 million budget and would create a fund for private donations in support of the program.
View this post on Instagram
Read more: This Massive Pennsylvania Museum Is a Nostalgic Day Trip From NJ
The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Bill Moen on September 17th and was referred to the Assembly Education Committee. He told the New Jersey Monitor that he was inspired to act by observing his own children. “What this bill aims to address is eliminating the excuse or the reason that there’s not a book in the household or in the bedroom that could be used to read to your kids at night,” he said.
The New Jersey Girl has reached out to Assemblyman Moen for more information and will update this piece when we hear back.
See more: 19 New Jersey-Based Books to Add to Your Fall TBR
Follow @thenewjerseygirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest updates on Hoboken, Montclair, Bergen County, and more, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
