Imagination Library of Eugene

 

Founded by Dolly Parton and funded 100% locally, we are proud to partner with Eugene Public Library as the Eugene-based affiliates of the international Imagination Library Program.

From birth to their fifth birthday, all children in Eugene are eligible to receive a free book in the mail each and every month. No strings attached!

2022 Photo Challenge Winner

From left to right, meet Judah, Elijah, and Micah - three brothers who have all received books through the Imagination Library of Eugene! Watch their video from the 2022 Imagination Library Luncheon here!

Sustaining a successful model

We believe in the power of literacy to change and enrich lives.  Currently, only 50% of incoming kindergartners meet the state benchmarks for early literacy. They are behind, even before they start.  We want to change that. Let’s give children the tools they need to be successful and happy.

This program is made possible by the generous contributions of businesses and individuals throughout Eugene. Your investments help strengthen our community for us all.

With a gift of $25, you will be providing one book per month for an entire year to a preschool age child. Only $125 provides books for five years!

You can become a “Young Reader Sponsor” by creating a recurring monthly gift of $20 or more when you select “Monthly” on the gift frequency line of the donor form. Change a child’s life forever. Become a sponsor today!

You can also mail a check to:
Eugene Public Library Foundation
100 W 10th Ave., Suite 317
Eugene, OR 97401

Join the Legacy for Literacy Group

Thank you to our Legacy donors who have committed to providing a gift of $1,000 every year for five years. Contact us to learn more and to join this community of supporters! (541) 338-7018 or info@eplfoundation.org

 

Enroll your child

Learn more about the Imagination Library of Eugene from Eugene Public Library. Check availability on the Imagination Library website. While Eugene Public Library Foundation funds children within Eugene city limits, other affiliates serve areas within Lane County.

Watch our video to learn about imagination library!

Thank you to Northwest Community Credit Union!

At the virtual 2021 Imagination Library Luncheon, the credit union announced funding of $250,000 over 5 years for the Imagination Library of Eugene. This funding will enable us to serve all of unincorporated Eugene. It will also support United Way in closing the existing gaps of coverage in all of Lane County. As a result, beginning in January, 2022, every child in Lane County from birth through age four will be eligible to receive Imagination Library books in the mail. Thank you, Northwest Community Credit Union!

Imagination Library Advisory Board

Shelley Smolnisky 
Co-Chair
Marlene Iversen 
Co-Chair
Doug Barber
Sharon Posner
Ellen Todras 
Michele Ward
Foundation Board Member

 

Dave Burtner
Bev Chadburn
Audrey Lucero
Nicki Maxwell
Cindy Nelson
Meagan Rammell
Marti Ravits
Kathleen Ryals
Roz Stein
Mary Walston
Sandy Watkinson
Wendy Wheeler-Coltrane

Enroll your child

Learn more about the Imagination Library of Eugene from Eugene Public Library. Check availability on the Imagination Library website. While Eugene Public Library Foundation funds children within Eugene city limits, other affiliates serve areas within Lane County.

 
 

want to learn more about Imagination Library of Eugene?

 

What is the cost of the program? How much does the Foundation need to raise?

Current costs for books and shipping are approximately $7300/month to serve around 3600 children, with an annual cost anticipated to be $90,000. Each child is $25/year. Donors like you raise 100% of the funds for the books and shipping. Eugene Public Library provides in-kind staff time to support enrollment and outreach, while Eugene Public Library Foundation provides in-kind staff time to support outreach and fundraising.

How did the Imagination Library of Eugene start?

The program started when Doug Barber, a Foundation Board member, saw a brief story about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on TV’s PBS Newshour in 2014. What a great idea! He thought. Why can’t we do that in Eugene? He brought the idea to the Foundation Board, who, in partnership with the library, agreed to sponsor the program here in Eugene. Here we are six years later, and the program is serving about 3,600 preschoolers every month!

What are program enrollment and retention numbers?

Imagination Library of Eugene enrollment numbers have been steady since the start of the program. The program averages 141 new enrollments monthly with an average of 58 participants graduating monthly. IL of Eugene consistently sees higher monthly counts of new enrollees than graduates and serves about 3,600 children in total each month. Grow it.

What does '“local affiliate” mean?

A local affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that raises funds for and administers the program for a certain area. The Eugene Public Library Foundation is the local affiliate of Imagination Library of Eugene. The primary roles of a local affiliate are to enroll local children aged 0-5 in their coverage area, fund the book cost of children enrolled, and promote the program locally to drive funding and enrollment. IL of Eugene is unique in the way that Eugene Public Library assists in administering the program by keeping the list of participants that books are mailed to each month.

All books are sent out as media mail through the USPS and the average cost of books is $2.10/child for postage and books combined each month.

With Springfield and rural Lane County having Imagination Library affiliates now, there are more opportunities for children to enroll in the area! To search to see if an address is covered, please use this link for Imagination Library enrollment.

How has COVID-19 affected the program?

It has been very fortunate that the Imagination Library program has been able to continue uninterrupted during this period of uncertainty. The national program that sends out the books for local affiliates (like Eugene Public Library Foundation) announced in late March of 2020 that the shipping of books would continue without delay and wrote, “Our supply chain, fulfillment and postal systems are all operational, having been deemed ‘essential services’ by governing authorities,” in an email to affiliates.

How do I get involved with the Imagination Library Advisory Board?

We are looking for Advisory Board members who are passionate about the program to support our volunteer efforts to fundraise, recruit new children, build partnerships, and spread the word about the program. If you are interested in joining the Imagination Library Advisory Board or partnering with the program, please email info@eplfoundation.org.

How are books for the program chosen?

Each year, the esteemed Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee, a specially selected panel of early childhood literacy experts, is responsible for reviewing hundreds of potential titles for inclusion in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library national. The Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee is a part of the Dollywood Foundation in Tennessee and takes great care in choosing books that meet the different needs of children as they progress from birth to age five. This committee select books for all national and international affiliates. All books are published by Penguin Random House. For more information, visit the Imagination Library headquarter’s site.

How are you reaching families right now?

A lot of our program recruitment is word of mouth between families and with younger siblings enrolling. Families are the experts on how great the program is, and we see a lot of person-to-person recruitment. Eugene Public Library recruits families through their outreach activities, and we are always looking to build partnerships with local preschools, social service agencies, and community centers to spread the word. Starting this fall, we are going to increase bilingual Spanish/English recruitment materials to be more accessible to our community at large.