Kids in Salem’s southern hills can now get free books monthly thanks to an expansion of a popular reading program.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is now available to children five and under living in the 97306 ZIP code, which includes the south Gateway, Creekside and Rosedale areas.
Families can sign up online here.
The program is run by the country singer’s foundation and is intended to support early literacy by making high-quality books available to young children regardless of family income. Participating communities must have a local organization to sponsor the program and cover the cost of books and postage.
In Salem, the Marion Polk Early Learning Hub launched the Imagination Library in late 2022. The program now mails books to over 2,300 kids monthly in seven participating ZIP codes, which include north Salem (97301) and Keizer (97304).
Marjorie Lowe, who coordinates the program for the hub, said families have been enthusiastic about the program, with local sign-ups exceeding the rate the Imagination Library typically sees when launching in a new community.
“One mother even showed me photos of her little guy clutching his book month after month on his way back from the mailbox,” Lowe said.
Families reach out to her directly if their books don’t arrive when expected in the mail.
“It says to me that people are really eager to receive the books,” she said.
The expansion into south Salem is covered through a grant from the Creekside Rotary Club of Salem, which committed $22,000 to cover it, Lowe said.
In the two weeks they’ve had sign-ups available, 300 kids in the 97306 ZIP code have joined.
Oregon legislators committed $1.7 million during the 2023 session to supporting local Imagination Library programs with matching dollars. Lowe said the hub tries to have money secured for three years before they expand to new ZIP codes, and the state money will help them cover the costs.
In September, they’re kicking off a fundraising effort with Capitol Manor to support the cost of expanding the Imagination Library to west Salem, with a Dolly Parton sing-along fundraiser from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Lowe met last week with Marion County commissioners to request county funds for expansion into the 97305 ZIP code, which includes much of northeast Salem, Hayesville and Books.
She said the Creekside Rotary Club hopes to raise more money to expand into south Salem, 97302.
Dolly Parton books are the most cost-effective way to get books in the hands of local kids, she said, with an average price of $2.20 per child per month.
“I cannot match that cost with any of the other book buys that I do,” she said.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
