The Guelph chapter of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has put free books in the hands of hundreds of children aged six and under, organisers say, and has helped about 150 local children since it launched in 2022.
Early literacy program reaches into homes across the region
The program, which mails an age-appropriate, personalised book each month to enrolled children, operates in Guelph alongside chapters serving Waterloo region and Six Nations of the Grand River. Locally, organisers describe the initiative as a simple but powerful way to build connections between children, caregivers and books.
"When you give a child a book early on, they love reading. It's so exciting and you sit down with your parent and you laugh together and look at the illustration and it creates this connection not only to your caregiver, but also to the books and reading," said Carolyn Weatherson, president of the Imagination Library of Guelph.
Weatherson said the Guelph chapter has enrolled 150 children since 2022 and that the national program has distributed more than 730,500 books in Canada as of 2025. Globally, organisers note the Imagination Library has distributed more than 300 million books across several countries.
Local benefits and community partnerships
Organisers in Guelph emphasise that the program’s value lies not only in book delivery but in fostering caregiver-child interaction and introducing children to storytelling and printed materials at an early age. The Guelph chapter sources books that include Canadian authors and works chosen with educators in mind.
- Target audience: children aged six and under
- Delivery method: one book mailed monthly to enrolled children
- Local reach: approximately 150 children enrolled in Guelph since 2022
The program’s structure is straightforward: once enrolled, a child receives a new book each month until they turn seven. The books are personalised with the child's name and chosen to be age-appropriate, organisers say.
Context following founder’s death
The Imagination Library was founded in 1995 by singer and philanthropist Dolly Parton as a tribute to her father, who could not read or write. Parton, who helped grow the program into an international effort, died at age 80 after a battle with cancer earlier this week. Local organisers said her legacy in early-literacy access is visible in communities such as Guelph that operate the program.
| Program statistic | Number |
|---|---|
| Children helped in Guelph (since 2022) | 150 |
| Books distributed in Canada (as of 2025) | 730,500+ |
| Books distributed worldwide | 300,000,000+ |
Local coordinators say the chapter works with partners to ensure Canadian content and educator input inform book selection. They also noted that the home-delivery model is especially valuable for reaching families who may not have easy access to libraries or bookstores.
What this means for Guelph families
For Guelph caregivers and community organisations, the program offers a low-barrier way to support early childhood literacy. Organisers encourage eligible families to enrol and say community support drives the chapter’s capacity to reach more children.
As the program continues locally, organisers plan to maintain relationships with educational partners and to highlight the role that repeated, shared reading in early childhood plays in developing language and literacy skills. With the death of its founder, volunteers in Guelph and beyond said they are motivated to sustain and expand the program as a living part of her legacy.
