In 1995, Dolly created her Imagination Library in Sevier County, Tennessee. This monthly book gifting program for children under the age of five was originally designed to inspire a love of reading and learning for all preschool children in the county. What was founded as a local program became such a success that in 2000 a national replication effort was underway, and by 2003 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had mailed one million books. It would prove to be the first of many millions of books sent to children around the world. Dolly’s home state of Tennessee pledged to pursue statewide coverage in 2004 and shortly after, global expansion was on the horizon. After the United States, the program launched in Canada in 2006 followed by the United Kingdom in 2007. Australia’s program was launched in 2013 with the Republic of Ireland joining in 2019. By early 2023, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had reached a significant milestone, gifting a total of 200 million books globally since its inception. This achievement underscores the program's status as the flagship initiative of The Dollywood Foundation, made possible through unique partnerships with publishers, fulfillment centers, and thousands of Local Program Partners around the world. In 2024, 1 out of every 7 children under the age of five in the USA received an Imagination Library book from Dolly each month and over 3 million books being mailed per month internationally.

In partnership with Porter Leath, Germantown Community Library is now accepting new registrations for Books From Birth. Every month, your child will receive an award winning book specifically selected for their age. To register a child between the ages of birth to five years old, click here to register online or click here to download the registration form. Please bring completed forms to the Youth Services desk.