On April 2, Indiana First Lady Maureen Braun announced that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana will now offer free books to Indiana children under the age of 5. Books will be given each month after the program has reached90% of its two-year fundraising goal.
Maureen Braun has been entrusted with ensuring the program’s continuation after her husband, Gov. Mike Braun, fully eliminated its funding from the state budget in 2025.
The nationwide program offers free books to children monthly from birth until age 5, aiming to promote early reading habits and foster a lifelong love of books by encouraging parents to read with their young children.
“Receiving books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library fosters a love of reading and creates meaningful family memories to last a lifetime. Early childhood literacy has a profound impact on Hoosier kids as they grow, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana is helping to build strong foundations for young Hoosiers,” Maureen told 13 WTHR.
According to Katie Mullins, Indiana’s community engagement coordinator for the Imagination Library, more than 143,000 Hoosier children are currently enrolled in the program. All 92 counties in Indiana continue to participate, and families interested in signing up can find more information at imaginationlibrary.com.
