armadillosoft

Any San Francisco kid under the age of 5 can get a free book mailed to them every month under a new partnership announced Friday by city officials and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

The first book that all children will receive in the mail, addressed to them, is The Little Engine That Could.

https://www.kqed.org/news/12055693/dolly-partons-imagination-library-launches-in-san-francisco

Families can enroll their children here:

https://sfdec.org/imagination-library/

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Launches in San Francisco

Dolly Parton launched the program 30 years ago to inspire children to read as early as possible, and it has expanded to every state in the nation.

KQED
Sep 21, 2025 at 12:02amWeb
Show threadStrider Uwe 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇲🇽Sep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft Dolly Parton is a saint
Show threadarmadillosoftSep 21, 2025

@UweHalfHand

Agreed!

Show threadClifford OliverSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft One of my favorite human beings.
Show threadarmadillosoftSep 21, 2025

@cliffco58

+1

Show threadArchaeoIainSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft pure magic.
Show threadMastodon MigrationSep 21, 2025

@Armadillosoft

This is a great program. If you can take advantage of it, do so!

Show threadBradley BowenSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft Dolly is divine ✨
Show threadJeff PhillipsSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft The state government in #Indiana had an agreement like that with Dolly's organization, but our new governor and the super-majority Republican legislature decided it was more important to decrease our income tax by 0.1%, so the funding for children's was zeroed out of the budget. Oh, but we Hoosiers should not fret because the guv's wife has promised to raise money via donations to keep funding the program.
Show threadarmadillosoftSep 21, 2025
@DrJay
:-(
Show threadPlatypusmanSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft Kids in low income neighborhoods in Berkeley have had access to this service for years. I’m glad to see it spreading. Reading at an early age is critical for brain development.
Show threadIrinaSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft It's a pity that to enroll in the program you *already* have to be using the public library. That will make a lot of people miss out who think the library is not for them.
Show threadarmadillosoftSep 21, 2025

@irina

Seems to me that in order to use the public library, all you need to do is to live in the neighborhood and walk in, no?

Show threadIrinaSep 22, 2025
@Armadillosoft You and I know that. I know people who think they're not welcome either because they "can afford books so why borrow" or "it's only for brainy people".
Show threadIrinaSep 22, 2025
@Armadillosoft I used to take care of my godson one day a week while his mother was in school, and at 2 1/2 he'd never seen a picture book! I got him a library card and read to him a lot (and also bought him books for every birthday until he was well into his teens).
Show threadarmadillosoftSep 22, 2025
@irina Your godson's mother chose well! He is lucky she did. It takes the right village.
Show threadJeri DanskySep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft And San Mateo County has been a participant in the Imagination Library program since August 2024:
https://smcl.org/blogs/post/sign-up-for-the-imagination-library-of-san-mateo-county/
Sign up for the Imagination Library of San Mateo County!

The Imagination Library of San Mateo County invites families to sign up for free, monthly books in the mail for children ages 0-5.

Show threadkimuSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft @Kleen this program (along with her many other fantastic community contributions) is the reason that “Dolly is a fabulous person” is literally the only thing that everyone in Tennessee agrees on.
Show thread🐌’s PaceSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft
Yes! The Little Engine That Could is the perfect first book. What a wonderful gift!
Show threadarmadillosoftSep 21, 2025

@jancampbellcady

Truth.

Show threadSkean Harshly KC1WKVSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft my daughter got so many amazing books through this program when she was young. Dolly Parton is an amazing human!
Show threadarmadillosoftSep 21, 2025

@dandrumheller

Jealous. I love children's books.

We should be replacing Confederate statues with statues of Dolly Parton.

Show threadsu_liamSep 21, 2025
@Armadillosoft Oh noes! They’re trying to make San Francisco woke. With “The Little Engine That Could…”
Show threadarmadillosoftSep 21, 2025

@su_liam

Love that book. Dolly Parton should be given the medal of honor.

Show threadjohn r red-horseOct 19

@Armadillosoft

TIL that, while Dolly Parton's nonprofit facilitates the Imagination Library, the program requires local leadership and funding. Her foundation doesn't provide those.

Whatever, the fact that she undertook the initiative to get books to all children whose parents request a subscription is fantastic.

I've always felt that instilling a love of reading in children is one of the most important things we can do for them.

Show threadarmadillosoftOct 19

@jrredho

Interesting. I appreciate that you have pointed this out.

OTOH, seems to me that getting local communities involved in literacy programs is not a bad thing. Makes this less charity and more self-help.

Also, makes it feel less like a rich lady from up the mountain coming down to the neighborhood and telling them what to give their less privileged kids to read.

And, also, Dolly's resources, like everyone else's are not unlimited. So hopefully this expands her reach.

Show threadjohn r red-horseOct 19

@Armadillosoft

I don't disagree with anything you wrote.

I just wanted people who weren't familiar the program to know that there are local folks who make this happen. We should all appreciate their efforts, too. Without them, this wouldn't be available.

Show threadHey GusOct 20

@Armadillosoft I’m not sure about the geolocation being relevant, but we’ve been signed up for the last 3 years and got quite a few books - all good, a handful still in regular rotation.

Such a beautiful use of resources.

Reading to or with children is such a simple and highly impactful thing for any adult to do.