Imagination Library Celebration

Children under five years old who live in Tazewell County are now eligible to receive a free book each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in partnership with Tazewell County Libraries. The free books are offered to all children under five in the county, regardless of family income. Everyone is invited to attend our Kick-off Celebration on August 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the Morton Public Library Reading Garden. Children will receive an Imagination Library bookmark and balloon and enjoy a book reading. Donors will be recognized, and questions about the program will be answered by local library representatives.

Children must be registered by a parent or guardian in order to receive the books. There is no charge to register or receive the books. Age-appropriate books are mailed directly to the homes of registered children each month. Parents or guardians may register their children online by filling out a brief form at imaginationlibrary.com. Registered children will begin receiving books at their home address about eight to 10 weeks after their forms are received. The first book distributed is always the children’s classic, “The Little Engine That Could.”  

Tazewell County’s Imagination Library program is funded by donations. The Tazewell County Freemasonry has partnered with the libraries to provide initial funding with 11 lodges donating funds to local libraries in support of the project. Other donors include Morton Rotary, East Peoria Women’s Club, Friends of Fondulac District, Tazewell County Retired Teachers Association, Kiwanis Club of East Peoria, Friends of the Pekin Public Library, and Kiwanis Club of Pekin.

Anyone can donate to support the Tazewell County Imagination Library program. A fund has been established at the Morton Community Foundation and donations can be sent to Morton Community Foundation ATTN: Imagination Library Fund, 135 S. First Avenue, Morton, IL 61550. Donations may also be made online at https://mortoncommunityfoundation.org/dpil-taz-fund. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was launched in 1995 by The Dollywood Foundation, providing free books to children in Parton’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee. The goal of the program is to inspire a love of books and reading among children. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.