The Northern Virginia Imagination Library is not yet enrolling children to receive books.
We are currently raising funds and recruiting volunteers.
Northern Virginia Imagination Library
The Northern Virginia Imagination Library is a local program partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, serving children across Northern Virginia. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to foster a love of reading by mailing free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five.
Founded by community members who believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow up with books, the Northern Virginia Imagination Library partners with families, educators, and donors to inspire early literacy and spark lifelong learning.
As a local program partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, this organization is responsible for raising funds and registering the young readers.
With your support, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant community—one book, one child, one month at a time.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Tennessee organization. The Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting FREE books to children from birth to age five. The program is made possible through funding shared by Dolly Parton herself, and local Program Partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly started the Imagination Library in 1995 to serve the children of her hometown in Sevier County, Tennessee. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over 3 million free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to children around the world. There is never a charge to families who participate in the program and it is open to all children under the age of f ive in geographic areas with operating programs.
Why Invest in Early Literacy?
Ninety percent of physical brain development occurs in the first three years of life, when a baby forms over 1 million new neural connections per second.
When a young child enters kindergarten ready for school, there is an 82% chance that the child will master basic skills by age 11, compared with a 45% chance for children who are not school-ready.
Later in life, at-risk children who do not receive high- quality early childhood experiences are 25% more likely to drop out of school. 40% more likely to become teen parents and 60% less likely to attend college.
Investment in high-quality early childhood programs for at-risk children from birth to age five delivers a 7-10% annual return on investment through improved education, health, social and economic outcomes, increased productivity and the reduced need for social spending.
Having books in the home is crucial for a child’s academic, social, and emotional development. Reading together fosters a unique bond between children and their parents or caregivers. The Imagination Library extends this impact globally by providing books to children worldwide, free of charge, nurturing their minds and hearts.