FAQs

Imagination Library of Ventura County (ILVC) is the local affiliate for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL). DPIL has affiliates throughout the United States.

In 1995, the Dollywood Foundation implemented Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Sevier County, Tennessee. This monthly book gifting program for children under five focused on inspiring a love of books and reading for all preschool children in the county. What was founded as a local program grew into an international movement through the unique partnership among the Foundation, the publisher, the fulfillment centers and the thousands of local organizations who adopted the program. The Imagination Library continues to be the signature program of the Foundation.

The Dollywood Foundation was created in 1988 by Dolly Parton to inspire the children in her home county in Tennessee to achieve educational success. Initial efforts focused on decreasing the drop out rate in the county's high school. In the early 90's Dolly promised every 7th-grade and 8th-grade student she would personally give them $500 if they graduated from high school.

The County of Ventura Library System (VCL) is governed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors and includes and represents libraries in Ventura County. Its mission is to inspire the community to "explore, discover, and connect." VCL is a municipal organization that administers County Libraries and library services and does not solicit private funding or donations.

To launch and exist as a local county affiliate for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL), ILVC needs to show that it has broad county support: residents sign up for it, county and state authorities recognize it, it maintains a not-for-profit status or is covered by a local not-for-profit entity, and receives sufficient local financial contributions to sustain it over time. As an affiliate, ILVC enjoys the benefits of DPIL's national organization and State of California support, which in turn allows it to gift books free of charge delivered monthly to Ventura county kids age birth to five.

Once ILVC has established itself as a recognized affiliate of DPIL, we can start registering all residents with children ages birth to five in Ventura County, who want to receive monthly books free of charge delivered to their home. Our goal is to start in September 2026.

In the meantime, interested parents and individuals can place themselves on a "New Program Alert" list at Dolly Parton's Imagination Library web site with this link: New Program Alert

Ventura County Library Foundation (VCLF) was founded in 2012 with the mission and vision to enhance access to reading and library services for Ventura County. The Foundation partners with the Ventura County Library and public and private entities to achieve its goals. VCLF is an established not-for-profit and registered 501(c)(3) entity that can receive tax-deductible contributions. VCLF has responsibility for ILVC's and DPIL local county affiliate financial administration and tax reporting through VCLF's Federal Tax Id #46-2770894.