Montana celebrates the success of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and encourages all Montana children under five to enroll!
Governor Greg Gianforte and First Lady Susan Gianforte welcomed partners, supporters and guests to the Imagination Library of Montana’s Statewide Celebration, held August 27, 2025, at the Armory Music Hall at the Kimpton Armory Hotel in Bozeman.
First Lady Gianforte’s charitable foundation, the Treasure State Foundation, hosted the event to celebrate two years since the Imagination Library became available to all Montana children under the age of five and bring awareness to this impactful initiative.
“What Dolly Parton has accomplished through the Imagination Library is incredible,” says First Lady Gianforte. “Thanks to Dolly’s vision and generosity, the program is helping our youngest generation be ready for school and ready to learn.”
Attendees at the event included Imagination Library of Montana partners and supporters, early childhood education stakeholders, and other special guests. The Governor and First Lady of Montana also shared some remarks.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Celebrates 30 Years
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides free high-quality and age-appropriate books to children under age five. The books are customized with the child’s name and mailed directly to their home, creating a special gifting experience that makes reading exciting. Parents and guardians can complete a simple enrollment form online at www.montanaimaginationlibrary.org.
This year, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is celebrating 30 years of inspiring a love of reading – and honoring all the incredible communities that have made that possible. What began in a small county in Tennessee is now a global movement operating in five countries – and mailing over 3 million books each month. One book is mailed every second. In the U.S. alone, Imagination Library now reaches more than 1 in 7 children under five each month.
Celebrating Two Years Since Statewide Expansion
In Montana, First Lady Gianforte was so inspired by the program’s impact that she led the effort to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Montana and make it available to all Montana children under the age of five.
In June 2023, in partnership with The Dollywood Foundation, Dolly Parton’s nonprofit organization, First Lady Gianforte announced that the program was available statewide. Imagination Library of Montana is an initiative of the Treasure State Foundation, founded by First Lady Susan Gianforte to promote educational initiatives in Montana.
There are now about 27,500 children enrolled, and that number continues to grow. Over 590,000 books have been mailed in Montana since the program’s statewide expansion.
“All of these wonderful achievements have very little to do with me and everything to do with you. You’ve brought so much joy to so many families and children. And I just simply want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me inspire children to love reading,” said Dolly Parton.
Register a Child
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is free for all families and available statewide In Montana. Children can be registered from birth to age five to receive new, high-quality, age-appropriate books addressed to them in the mail each month until their fifth birthday. Registration is quick and easy—enroll now!