Athol, Erving, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Shutesbury, Wendell

As trustees of New Salem Academy, our mission has always been to provide scholarships and educational opportunities for residents of New Salem and the surrounding towns. Through our partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we’re extending that mission to our youngest learners — helping every child begin their educational journey through the joy of books and reading.

Each month, children from birth to age five who are enrolled in the Imagination Library receive a brand-new, high-quality book mailed directly to their home, completely free of charge. It’s a simple but powerful way to nurture early literacy, strengthen family bonds, and build a lifelong love of reading across our covered communities of Athol, Erving, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Shutesbury, and Wendell.

We’re proud to serve as the Local Program Partner for the Imagination Library in our region and are grateful for the opportunity to help bring books into the hands of local children and families. This program is fully funded by the Trustees of New Salem Academy in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, reflecting our shared commitment to ensuring that every child has access to the joy and opportunity that books bring.

About New Salem Academy:

On February 25, 1795, Samuel Adams, then Governor of Massachusetts, signed the charter that created New Salem Academy—a small private high school that once welcomed students from seven neighboring towns. Although the Academy closed in 1969, its legacy continues today. The Academy’s trustees manage endowment funds to provide educational scholarships to descendants of New Salem Academy students and staff, and to support educational and cultural programs across the region through grants. The Trustees also maintain the Museum of New Salem Academy in the historic “Old Academy Building” in New Salem center.