Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library funding cut from Indiana governor’s proposed budget

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana governor’s new proposed budget will drop funding for a program that gives thousands of children free books from birth until age 5. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which the country music star started, sends books free of charge to children every month.

Dollywood Foundation president responds to dropped funding

By the numbers:

Under the State of Indiana budget report, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s proposal does not include the usual 50% matching funds provided to finance the initiative. The fiscal years of 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 are allocated as $0. 

Braun, the 52nd gov., took office last month, after Eric J. Holcomb held the position from 2017-2025.

What they're saying:

Jeff Conyers, the vice chair and president of The Dollywood Foundation, told FOX TV Stations that the foundation is "hopeful" that he will reconsider the state’s proposed budget.

"For the past two years, the State of Indiana has been a proud partner in bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to over 125,000 Hoosier children each month," he told FOX. "Together, we’ve helped nurture a love of reading, given families precious moments of joy, and built a foundation for lifelong learning."

Dolly Parton attends We Are Family Foundation on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Credit: John Lamparski/Getty Images)

He continued: "Today, we are hopeful that Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature will continue this vital investment by restoring the state's funding match for local Imagination Library programs. The beauty of the Imagination Library is that it unites us all – regardless of politics – because every child deserves the chance to dream big and succeed." 

As of Thursday, Parton had not commented on the matter.

Conyers added: "Indiana’s leaders have the opportunity right now, during this legislative session, to reaffirm their commitment to our Imagination Library partnership and the future of the state’s youngest children. We are currently seeking to work closely with key decision-makers to ensure that every child in Indiana, no matter where they live, can continue to receive the gift of books each month—free to their families and full of possibility."

Imagination Library started in 2023 in Indiana 

Big picture view:

The Imagination Libary was started by Parton in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts millions of free books each month to children around the world.

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.

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There are currently more than 3.1 million children registered under the program, and the foundation has gifted over 270 million books. 

In 2023, then-Gov. Holcomb joined Parton to announce the Indiana statewide expansion of her namesake book-gifting program. 

"It takes a lot of great people working together to make this possible, and I want to thank Governor Holcomb, the Indiana General Assembly, State Librarian Jake Speer and all our Local Community Partners across the state who helped make this dream a reality," Parton said at the time. 

Gov. Holcomb announced Parton’s Imagination Library statewide expansion as part of his 2023 Next Level Agenda. On May 4, 2023, Gov. Holcomb signed legislation into law that allotted $6 million over the biennium, $2 million in the first year and $4 million in the second year, as part of a community share to expand the program to every zip code in the state.