Enrollment in Dolly Parton Imagination Library for Waldo County will conclude on 11/01/2026.
Until then, you can register children ages birth through five at https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/MEWALDO/
Thank you to everyone who has participated in fundraising to launch Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Waldo County, promoting it in your area, and continuing to fundraise to keep books going to the homes of children ages birth through five in the county. While at no-cost to the families enrolled, there is a significant, and growing, cost to Waldo County. We had to fundraise to launch the program and to keep the books going to homes. The Dolly Parton Foundation has created a network to support their early literacy program (DPIL), but the local affiliates have to fundraise to pay for a portion of printing the books and all the cost of mailing the books.
Fundraising the county’s obligation seemed doable when the Maine State Legislature voted in 2023 to provide half the cost of each book and mailing. Their intent was to incentivize counties to bring DPIL more broadly in Maine. With that funding we had to fundraise ~$1.20 for every book, every month, to every child. The State Legislature has opted not to renew this money in 2026 and now we need to cover $2.40 per month per child. The enrollment of families has been very good in Waldo County with current enrollment at 750 children. The cost increase and the number of new enrolled children points to the need for us to raise ~$30,000-$35,000 per year. At the meeting of DPIL fundraisers on 9/9, several library directors and public champions in attendance decided without a large corporate donor, fundraising to continue DPIL in Waldo County is not doable. It was decided that enrollment in DPIL for Waldo County will conclude on 11/01/2026.
Presently, there are 38 children enrolled from Liberty and Montville. DPIL Waldo current funds and incoming funds will serve enrolled children until they age out, which will be approximately August of 2027. Fundraising will continue to serve our commitment to enrolled children. All current and future donations will extend the time we can serve currently enrolled children.
Donations can be done online at https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com (The affiliate code is ME-Waldo County.) Or send your donation to Jane Beers, Dolly Parton Imagination Library Waldo County Coordinator, Belfast Free Library 106 High Street, Belfast, ME 04915. You must designate that this donation is going to DPIL, not to BFL. You can also donate in person at Belfast Free Library during regular library hours. For questions, call 207-338-3884, Ext 13.
We hope that this is a pause in the enrollment and not the end. If a large funder can donate money annually to keep DPIL in Waldo, we can restart the program and open enrollment to all. Or if the Maine State Legislature again provides the funding to DPIL, our partners at the Maine State Library can again assist affiliates to restart or launch the program in their area. Let your legislators know this is important.
Other counties in Maine stopped DPIL in their areas immediately after the state legislature stopped their financial support. Serving current enrollees is an exit that feels better for Waldo County. Other states also concluded funding DPIL in 2026. The truth is that the DPIL is not free. It is at no cost to the families, but this is not a free program from the Dolly Parton Foundation.
Meanwhile, Reach Out and Read is providing a book to 38,000 kids and their families while fostering early literacy and brain development during each well-child pediatric visit in many locations in Maine. Plus, the Liberty Library has a wonderful selection of children’s books available for free to Liberty and Montville children. Children can get a Children’s Library Card as soon as they are able to sign their name (this is interpreted very loosely!) with a parent’s permission. Each account can borrow 10 books for 3-weeks. Some families with a parent and 3 children regularly borrow 40 books at a time!