Ohio Leads the Nation in Imagination Library Enrollment Boosted by Birth Paperwork Integration

Ohio has become the first state to update its birth certificate paperwork to include an option for parents to enroll their newborns in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library before leaving the hospital, expanding early access to the free book program and reinforcing the importance of early literacy.

The innovative solution allows parents and guardians to enroll their children by checking a single box, helping ensure children begin receiving books as early as possible and remain enrolled longer. Participating children will receive one age-appropriate book each month at no cost until their fifth birthday, providing them with the full collection of 60 books.

"These high-quality books from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library are important to the development of Ohio's young children,” explained Catherine Sulecki, state director of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. “Research has shown a positive correlation between the length of time a child is receiving Imagination Library books and their Kindergarten Readiness Assessment score. By signing up at birth, we are maximizing the impact this program has on children."

Studies show that reading to newborns supports language development, strengthens parent-infant bonding and lays the foundation for long-term academic and developmental success. Nearly 80% of a child’s brain develops by age three, making early literacy critical.

Families with home births can enroll through their county health department when completing required paperwork. This integration helps remove barriers such as limited internet access or transportation, expanding equitable access to early literacy opportunities across Ohio.

The Impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Ohio

Offering registration at all Ohio birthing hospitals and birthing centers ensures every family has the opportunity to register for this crucial program as early as possible. Parents and guardians may choose between the traditional book collection, which includes 10 English books and two English/Spanish bilingual books, or the full Spanish bilingual collection, supporting early literacy as well as second-language learning.

Since launching in Ohio in 2019, the Imagination Library has mailed 23 million books to children, making Ohio the state with the highest enrollment. As of 2025, more than 404,000 children are participating in the program, representing nearly 70% of Ohio households that have a child under the age of five.

The Center for Community Solutions analyzed data from The Literacy Cooperative’s annual survey, with a focus on households participating in the program within Cuyahoga County. The positive survey results included the following:

• More than four in five children are reading with their parents and guardians more after receiving the books.
• Over 90% of respondents believe participating in the Imagination Library is helping prepare their children for kindergarten.
• 90% of parents and guardians believe participation is positively impacting their family relationship.

Additionally, more than 75% of income households reported that books from the Imagination Library comprised at least half of their home libraries. These survey results demonstrate the importance of participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for all families, but even more for those with lower incomes.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continues to grow, delivering more than 304 million books since its creation in 1995. Money for the program is provided by the Dollywood Foundation and fundraising by the statewide nonprofit and more than 70 local organizations.

Families can sign up for the program by visiting ohioimaginationlibrary.org.