5,500 London children join Dolly Parton's book scheme

More than 5,500 children in London have joined Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library since the singer's passing, with interest in the free book-gifting initiative surging. The programme now operates across seven London boroughs, with thousands of children set to receive a free book each month.

Expansion Across London

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The scheme, which provides one free, age-appropriate book monthly to children from birth until their fifth birthday, is now accessible in Wandsworth, Camden, Hackney, Greenwich, Lewisham, Newham, and Barking and Dagenham. Helen Hastle, project manager for the London expansion, stated that Dolly Parton intended the scheme to be universal, irrespective of family income or background. Community engagement officers are working with groups where registration levels are lower.

The programme was already established in Southwark, Lambeth, and the City of London. The singer established the library in tribute to her father, who was unable to read or write. For families already participating, the monthly deliveries have become a routine part of their children's lives. Harieth Sedrick-Ugo, an early years educator from Southwark, described how her daughter Sienna, now four, eagerly anticipates opening her monthly book, which has helped build a small family library.

Local Uptake and Future Eligibility

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In the London Borough of Southwark, where the Imagination Library has been active since 2016, approximately 9,000 children are registered. In Barking and Dagenham, 257 children had registered for the scheme since its launch on September 14. Councillor Jane Jones, cabinet member for children’s social care, education & schools in Barking and Dagenham, welcomed the expansion, stating it would offer families more opportunities to share books. However, the council noted that no books had yet been distributed, as the ordering process can take up to six weeks from order processing.

The Imagination Library selects its books through a panel of experts, with titles published by Penguin Random House chosen to reflect the diverse experiences of young children. Steve Korris, executive director at The Dollywood Foundation UK, reported that the programme has supported around 65,000 children across London over the past decade, with approximately 35,000 children currently receiving a monthly book. With the recent expansion, over 100,000 children are now eligible for the scheme.

Registration and Support

The Imagination Library was launched in the UK in December 2007. Mr Korris also mentioned that new funding from the postcode lottery will support an additional 2 million books. Families can register for the scheme via the Imagination Library UK website by checking postcode availability.