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In true Dolly Parton fashion the Imagination Library continues to spark joy and opportunity for Oregon’s youngest learners. This beloved program delivers free, high-quality books each month to children from birth to age five, helping families build a love of reading right from the start. Since launching statewide in 2024, it has reached tens of thousands of kids in Oregon, proving that a simple book in the mailbox can open up a whole world of imagination, curiosity, and confidence.
And much like a great Dolly song, the momentum is only growing. In 2026, Oregon lawmakers advanced new legislation to strengthen and expand the program, working to secure long-term funding and ensure every eligible child can participate, no matter their zip code. With more than 70,000 children already enrolled, this effort underscores a shared commitment to early literacy, school readiness, and a brighter future for Oregon’s next generation. You don’t have to “work 9 to 5” to see the value of investing in our kids early. It is a story worth telling, page by page.
The state of Oregon covers half the cost of these books while relying on local community partners to provide matching funds, and The Early Learning Hub administers the matching funds for Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. To ensure the program continues, The Early Learning Hub needs community partners to help sustain and grow this incredible program. Your support will directly improve learning outcomes and build social and emotional resilience for children in our community.
If your organization or business would like to sponsor this foundational and important community resource, please click here. If you are a community member who wants to make an individual donation, please click here. You have the opportunity to specify the donation go to Central Oregon but can further specify which zip code you want to support.
