Below you will find our most frequently asked questions from parents. If you do not find answers to your questions, send us an email at imaginationlibrary@lva-augusta.org, and we will get back to you.
How long does it take to start receiving books?
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails out books to almost 3 million children a month. We must place our book orders a month in advance to do this. Depending on when you register your child, it may take up to eight to twelve weeks for the first book to arrive. After that, the books will come every month.
For example, if you registered your child on February 10th and were approved that month, your child would receive their first book in April.
How do I know if my child was accepted into the program?
If you provide an email address with your registration, you will be notified via email when the registration is approved or entered into our system. It takes 8-12 weeks for books to start arriving after approval.
Is my book missing or late?
Books can arrive anytime during the month, even up to the last day of the month. Our books are sent out as third-class bulk mail, so they may take a little longer since first and second-class mail get priority. Recent government layoffs have contributed to staffing challenges at the USPS, making some deliveries even more delayed. If your child hasn’t received their book after a month of its shipped date, then please reach out to us at imaginationlibrary@lva-augusta.org.
Do all children receive the same books?
Each child within an age group receives the same monthly book.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library makes sure children receive an appropriate book by allocating them to an age group based on their year of birth. For example, children born in 2023 will receive board books with minimal text focusing on nurture and attachment, whereas a child born in 2018 will receive a softcover picture book, covering more complex concepts. A child enrolled from birth to their fifth birthday will build their own home library of up to 60 books. Learn more on the Imagination Library website: https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/themes-concepts/
Do you have any tips or resources for parents?
Yes! Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides resources for parents on their website: https://imaginationlibrary.com/news-resources/parent-resources/
You can also follow our Facebook page for other resources and notices about community events.
What do I need to do when I move?
When planning a move, please provide us with your new address. If you have recently moved into Kennebec County and want your child’s enrollment transferred from another location, contact the program partner in the location you moved from. You can still enroll the child in Kennebec County, but until they are unenrolled in the other location, they will not receive a book at either location.
We are happy to update your information if you cannot access your account to make changes online.
Please provide your Child’s First and Last Name, Date of Birth, Old Address, and New Address including Zip Code and County via imaginationlibrary@lva-augusta.org.
We can also update parent/guardian names, emails, and phone numbers.
How do I get my login information?
If you registered your child online or an email address was added to your child’s record upon registration, this will serve as your username. If you do not know the password, please request a new password using the New Password/Forgot Password link on the login page. If your link has expired or is invalid, you can request a new link at any time by visiting www.imagination library.com.
If there is no email address on your child’s account, you will need to contact us at imaginationlibrary@lva-augusta.org to provide that information, and we will update it for you.