States cut funding to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

booksAug 27, 202636740

Missouri lawmakers cut funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for the upcoming fiscal year from about $6 million to $2 million, and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said it will not have the money to enroll new children after next month. The department said children already enrolled will continue to receive books as funding allows and suggested potential partnerships with local programs or private donors to revive enrollment. Since Missouri joined the program in 2023, the state has donated more than 4.3 million books and as of March more than 169,000 Missouri children were signed up. St. Louis, St. Charles and Jackson counties have the highest numbers of enrolled children, though several rural counties have higher enrollment percentages. In Indiana, Republican legislators removed Imagination Library funding from their proposed state budget, signaling similar cuts beyond Missouri. The immediate consequence is a freeze on new sign-ups in Missouri and a push by officials to find local or private funding to keep the program operating for currently enrolled children.

✨🌟 ⭐️ LoveKat ⭐️🌟✨🟦♿️🧬🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦🇲🇽🌎☮️🕊️🟪

@lovekat41.bsky.social

Missouri Repugs just cut $4 Million in funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Literacy Program, which sends monthly free books to kids 5 and under. No more children will be able to sign up to receive free books in Missouri. Tell me again, how MAGA loves Dolly. 🤬🤬🤬

14645d ago

Pissed-Off Scientist2

It was in May but the stupidity and hate will last forever.

Eliana1

#Missouri has an estimated basic adult literacy rate of 92.5%, though about 19% of adults still struggle with complex everyday reading tasks. www.datapandas.org/ranking/lite...

Screaming Pika1

More grifters get more cash.

Quoting this

MrZ2

Fcking hypocritical Nazi dumbfck magats

Alex Ip 葉清霖

@alexip718.com

TL;DR: Missouri slashed state funding for the Imagination Library by $4 million, Indiana eliminated its $4 million matching funding, and Maine ended the program due to a lack of funding (Janet Mills, are you kidding me?) OTOH It costs Trump $13.1 million to fix the National Mall reflecting pool.

11644d ago

Alex Ip 葉清霖91

There are 18.5 million kids under five in the U.S.. It costs the Imagination Library $31 to send each kid one book per month for a year. The $75 billion slush fund Republicans gave ICE could fund the Imagination Library for the next 130 years. It's a political decision to keep kids illiterate

Richard M. Nixon

@dicknixon.bsky.social

I saw some tape of Dolly Parton discussing her illiterate father, who she said was so intelligent she regularly went to him for business advice. He lived to see the Imagination Library and was thrilled people called her "the book lady." He was more proud of that than anything in show business.

10944d ago

Luigi de Guzman7

the illiterate fight hard for their children's right to schooling. My illiterate bricklayer great-grandfather fought hard to make sure his daughters would go to school. One, my grandmother, became a teacher herself.

JaneLane4

In America 2 we can have the Dolly Parton Library of Congress

Charles Keener

@charleskeener.bsky.social

Dolly Parton really spent 80 years proving you can be Southern, Christian, blonde, rhinestoned, country as hell and still understand that human rights are for everyone.

5244d ago

Ruben Garcia

@gorubenruben.bsky.social

Forget that loser Trump And be a Dolly and donate to her and Imagination Library and help give children books to make sure he never happens again! #Dolly #USDemocracy

3745d ago

Digital Warrior - Combat Disinfo

@digitalwarrior.bsky.social

Because, of course. Republicans cut funds from reading program spear headed by Dolly. They really hate the idea pf children reading or being fed. Weird type of Christians Republicans are. #DV1 #ProudBlue #Voices4Victory #USDemocracy www.newsweek.com/republicans-...

1844d ago

Holy City Sinner

@holycitysinner.com

Lowcountry mourns Dolly Parton, honors her legacy through Imagination Library www.live5news.com/2026/08/26/l...

2145d ago

anxiouspepper.bsky.social

@anxiouspepper.bsky.social

Absolutely!!! And all the proceeds from the gift shops with her merch can fund the imagination library!!!

2445d ago

Christina Lattimer

@christinalattimer.bsky.social

As a child, books opened my mind & sparked a curiosity I cherish. Dolly Parton understood this magic. Her Imagination Library gave millions of children access to reading. She turned her privilege into love in action. A beautiful, inspiring soul. ❤️ She lived her life from her Higher Self for sure!

1645d ago

Peter

@crankyvink.bsky.social

Let’s make a wave of donations to Imagination Library for Dolly! Even a one-time donation will keep her work going. Donate $9.25 today…”working 9 2 5“ what a way to show your support.

1345d ago

Justin Lewis

@whenisbirths.bsky.social

Yeah, see, Dolly didn't start her Imagination Library by just donating her own book, y'know?

1745d ago

Chef Kennedy🐸🏳️‍🌈

@kennedytcooper.bsky.social

I AM ONCE AGAIN ASKING FOR THE CANONIZATION OF DOLLY PARTON

1644d ago

LoboJoe1

You just said you're not Catholic lol

Another Friggin Dave1

I have already seen the word "saint" tossed around at least 3 times.

Honey

@honeymaura.bsky.social

It is my birthday (๑•᎑•๑) I just donated to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library <3 My grandpa was a big fan of Dolly Parton and I am too. If you have the means, please consider donating because I have seen the excitement these books bring kids. May we all strive to be a little more like Dolly <3

1344d ago

Arrête Mark Carney ⚜️

@lalegault.bsky.social

Our local fall fair just announced a Dolly Parton tribute this year in rural Canada 🇨🇦. Her influence and loss has touched the world. I am going to purchase a rhinestone-studded outfit to pay tribute to her properly.

1245d ago

Nemo.

@sirnemo.bsky.social

I put that final letter from the Imagination Library front-and-center -- next to her book BEHIND THE SEAMS and a children's book on the Smoky Mountains -- and I just know I'm going to hear about it tomorrow. "Hey man, way to make literally every patron cry."

1044d ago

3 sources

nytimes.comDolly Parton’s Imagination Library Changes Lives. Some States Gut It Anyway. (Gift Article)kcur.orgBudget cuts mean some Missouri kids won't get free books through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library rollingstone.comDolly Parton's Imagination Library Cut From Indiana Republicans' Proposed Budget

States cut funding to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Librarybooks

States cut funding to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

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