FORT COLLINS — Country music star Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has come to Larimer County. 

United Way of Larimer County has partnered with the Imagination Library and Imagination Library Colorado to bring high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five. Books are delivered to homes at no cost to families, according to a press statement from the United Way.

The program is designed to increase childhood literacy rates and foster a love of books. 

“We are so excited for this partnership with the Imagination Library. Children who are read to early in life are better prepared for school,” Christina Cooper, senior director of resource development at United Way of Larimer County, said in a written statement. “Early childhood literacy and education are important pillars of our work and bringing this program to Larimer County will have a lasting impact for years to come.”

United Way’s five-year goal is to reach 65% of children younger than age 5, or more than 11,000 children in the county.

The United Way said that several local entities are helping provide access to the program, including Berthoud Community Library, Estes Valley Library, Loveland Public Library, Poudre River Public Library District, Red Feather Lakes Community Library and Wellington Public Library. Families can enroll their children in the program by visiting www.uwaylc.org/ImaginationLibrary or any of the partner libraries. Once enrolled, the first book takes 6 to 8 weeks to arrive. 

While Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides limited bilingual Spanish/English book options, the United Way will work to assure that children have access to both English and Spanish. 

The Imagination Library program began in 1995 and has provided more than 182 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.