Dolly Parton book scheme doubles London coverage

Dolly Parton's free monthly book scheme, the Imagination Library, is set to double its presence in London. The programme, which provides a book each month to children until their fifth birthday, will extend its reach from five to 10 boroughs across the capital.

This expansion, made possible by funding from the Postcode Lottery, will increase the number of eligible children to 157,000. The initiative seeks to counter a noted decline in the frequency with which young children are read to. Organisers cite figures indicating that only 41% of children aged four and under are read to regularly, a decrease from 64% in 2012. Teachers have also observed that some children starting school struggle with book usage, attempting to interact with pages as if they were digital screens.

Benefits for families

Harriet Sedrick-Ugo, a mother of a four-year-old from south London and an early years educator, shared how the monthly books have significantly boosted her daughter Sienna's confidence. "We read together every day and that's been made possible because we get a book once a month," Sedrick-Ugo told BBC London. She added that her daughter now "loves reading for pleasure because we have so many books at home from the Imagination Library."

Sedrick-Ugo highlighted the financial relief the scheme offers. "Buying books can be quite expensive, so if they're going to be getting it for free, that would be something a lot of families can benefit from," she said. The scheme operates universally, meaning all children within participating boroughs can register irrespective of their family's income.

A lasting legacy

Jeff Conyers, president of the Dollywood Foundation, stated that Dolly Parton, who established the library in 1995 as a tribute to her illiterate father, would have been "incredibly proud" of its growth in London. "Dolly always wanted the Imagination Library to be something that lived on for generations into the future," Conyers said, noting her continuous drive to reach more children and families.

The Dollywood Foundation reports that over seven million books have been distributed to children across the UK through the Imagination Library. The expansion is being commemorated with an event at the British Library, preceding Give Like Dolly Day on 25 September.