Article written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on July 1, 2026, link to full article here.
Berkeley County Schools announced it will be partnering with The Dollywood Foundation, the Roy and Gwen Steeley Foundation and Marshall University’s June Harless Center to offer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to eligible students. The program was offered in the past, but as funding was removed, they were forced to close it down. Now Superintendent Ryan Saxe and the central office team are excited to start it again, giving students the chance to receive new books to encourage their love of reading.
Since 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been gifting families with books and giving children the support they need to develop a love for learning. Kids from birth to five-years-old receive a high-quality book every month for free. K-12 ELA and Social Studies Organizational Development and Student Learning Experiences Coordinator Tony Ponton oversees funding for the program. Ponton explained that the Imagination Library works with the postal service and local schools to find eligible students throughout the county and send them their books.
Before the program shut down several years ago, Ponton said his own son took advantage of the program and received books every month. It gave him something to look forward to while also giving him the opportunity to spend personal time with his parents as they read together.
“My son was so excited about receiving books especially for him,” Ponton said. “It was exciting knowing that he was getting something in the mail every month and it was something he looked forward to. Parents also have a great opportunity to read books to their kids. Research shows that reading aloud is important for literacy early on in a student’s education.”
Children signed up for the program before it ended carried over, so already Berkeley County has over 2,800 signed up for the program. Ponton is excited to see how many more families will take advantage of the opportunity. He hopes the program inspires kids to enjoy reading and learning.
“I hope the kids get books that they enjoy, and the books instill a love for reading,” Ponton said. “I also hope they appreciate the time parents spend reading to them.”
In the press release sent out by Berkeley County Schools about this new partnership, Superintendent Ryan Saxe also talked about the great opportunity this program offers.
“We are committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to develop a strong foundation for learning,” Saxe said. “Programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library help foster a love of reading at an early age, support families in promoting literacy at home, and prepare children for success in school and beyond. This partnership reflects our dedication to investing in our youngest learners and strengthening the future of our community.”
For more information about the Imagination Library program visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/WVberkeley/.