Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Harrisonburg and Rockingham: Spring 2026 update
As of mid-May, we have 3,514 children enrolled and 2,308 children have graduated from the program. In May, Virginia surpassed the 87,000 enrollment mark. The addition of Manassas makes 31 of 38 Virginia cities and 90 of 95 Virginia counties covered by an Imagination Library program!
More than 40 million books have been gifted since inception. View the DPIL 2025 Annual Report with more global stats and highlights.
Great Community Give
WSIG Partnership
WSIG 96.9 FM, a country music station of Harrisonburg Media Group, has partnered with us to promote DPIL. The station is running Public Service Announcements and promoting registration and support on their website.
First Fridays at Gift & Thrift
Lauren Jefferson, Gift and Thrift manager Sue Nelson, and Kelsey Gerber at the check presentation after the May First Fridays event. (Courtesy of Gift and Thrift)
DPIL was the beneficiary of Gift & Thrift’s “First Fridays of the Valley” event in early May. We set up a table in the Booksavers section with registration cards, donation slips, and book samples. Ten percent of the day’s proceeds were donated to DPIL, totaling $1,324!
Birthday Donation
Rebecca Porter sings at a Storytime event at Massanutten Regional Library for Dolly Parton’s 80th birthday. (TCFHR photo)
In May, we had a surprise visit from Rebecca Porter, the singer/songwriter who coordinated the “Back Through the Years” celebration for Dolly’s 80th birthday. She hand-delivered a $650 check from the ticket proceeds of this event! We always appreciate being included in events like this and are grateful for this partnership.
Children’s Books Needed!
Do you or someone you know have children’s books that aren’t being used? Along with stocking the Little Free Library, we plan to hand books out again at the Rockingham County Fair to promote this program and childhood literacy (it’s so fun to see our little visitors light up when we tell them they can pick out a book to take home!).
We are exploring options of how to replenish our stash, like setting aside some funds to purchase children’s books or partnering with local thrift stores to donate back DPIL books. If you have books you would like to donate, or know someone who does, books can be dropped off at the Little Free Library at any time. If you have a box or boxes of books, please drop them off during our office hours Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. and Fridays from 9 a.m.-noon.
