SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – While Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continues to thrive in Arkansas, the future of the program in Missouri faces uncertainty due to severe cuts in state funding.
The Imagination Library, a project hailed for its efforts to enhance childhood literacy by mailing free books each month to children from birth to age five, serves more than 300 families in Newton County, Arkansas. “We’re very geographically isolated,” said Fawn Kurtzo, director of the Newton County Library. “[The program] takes away the need for any transportation to get that resource. It comes directly to the family’s mailbox each month.” She also noted that each book is specifically tailored to the child’s age, providing a customized learning experience.
Since its start in Arkansas in 2005, the Imagination Library has delivered more than seven million books to over 80,000 children statewide. Community leaders have attributed real progress in educational outcomes to the program. Ken Savells, president of the Boone County Imagination Library board, explained the impact in Harrison schools, where improved reading scores have been partially credited to the initiative.
However, Missouri’s portion of the program has been significantly scaled back. State funding for the Imagination Library was reduced to $2 million in the 2027 budget—down sharply from $6 million allocated in 2026. As a result, some families are now unable to join the program.
Missouri’s commitment to the Imagination Library once stood out. During a 2024 visit to Kansas City celebrating the program’s expansion, former Governor Mike Parson declared August 27th “Imagination Library in Missouri Day” and proudly noted Missouri’s then-unique status as the only state to fully fund the program. Now, as new leadership has taken office, the program’s statewide future is uncertain.
“We are unsure of the future of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Missouri as a state-funded program,” said Lucas Bond, communications director with the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He added that partnerships with local organizations could provide a path forward, depending on resources and support.
The recent funding cuts have drawn concern from advocates like Savells, who believes the program’s value has not been fully communicated. “It’s frustrating to hear that money’s a problem. What that tells me is we’re not getting the word out in all these places of the real value of this resource of simply putting books in the hands of kids in their preschool years,” he said.
Dolly Parton herself emphasized the importance of literacy during a 2024 event in Kansas City, stating, “If you can read, you can learn about any subject that you’re interested in, and so I just think reading is just so important.” Her family has called for donations to the Imagination Library as a way to honor her memory and continue her legacy. For now, the program remains a vital resource in Arkansas, while Missourians face uncertainty about its role moving forward.