Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program available to children birth through age 4 living in Council Bluffs. Your child’s first gift will be a free copy of The Little Engine That Could delivered to their home. After that, your child will receive a carefully selected, age-appropriate book every month until the month of their 5th birthday or they move out of Council Bluffs.
There is no cost to your family to take part in the program. It is free to residents of zip codes 51501 and 51503 through generous funding from the Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Children under age five who are residents of the Council Bluffs, Iowa, zip codes 51501 and 51503 are eligible to enroll in Imagination Library of Council Bluffs.
To take part in our local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, you must be a legal resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa, 51501 or 51503.
When your child receives their Imagination Library books, spend time reading together.
If your child’s address changes, you must update the address to continue receiving books in the mail. You can do so by logging in to the Parent Information Center to update your family’s information or by emailing youth@councilbluffslibrary.org.
Eight to ten weeks after your registration form has been received, books will begin arriving at your home. Your child will continue to receive a new book in the mail every month until they turn five or move out of Council Bluffs.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books are mailed in groups based on birth year. While each enrolled child in your household will get a new book every month, the books won’t arrive on the same day for children of different ages.
If your family moves, you must update your address to continue receiving books in the mail. You can update your child’s mailing address by logging in to the Parent Information Center. You can also email the child’s new address to the Council Bluffs Public Library at youth@councilbluffslibrary.org.
The Dollywood Foundation covers all overhead and adminstration expenses at no cost to local partners. They provide database support, coordinate book selection, and coordinate monthly book order and fulfillment.
As the local champion, the Council Bluffs Public Library and its enrollment partners work to enroll children and secure funding. The Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation pays $2.10 per child per month toward the cost of wholesale books and mailing. The Kiwannis Club provides funding to assist in marketing and promotion.
Donations to our local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program can be made through the Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation.
If you’re not a resident of Council Bluffs 51501 or 51503, visit the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library website to check if the program is also available in your area.
