Staff members of the Troy-Miami County Public Library and Upper Valley Medical Center, announced a new partnership to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that has been delivering books to children throughout Miami County since 2013.
Courtesy of Upper Valley Medical Center
TROY — The Troy-Miami County Public Library (TMCPL) and Upper Valley Medical Center (UVMC) announced a new partnership to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Miami County. The UVMC Parent Board’s Community Benefit Fund will be used to financially support the Imagination Library program through 2025.
“Library administration and the Board of Trustees are extremely grateful that the UVMC Parent Board saw how powerful this program is in fostering a love of reading and improving future quality of life,” said Rachelle Via, executive director of the Troy-Miami County Public Library.
In total, the Community Benefit Fund will designate $90,000 to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Miami County. This will cover the mailing cost of over 163,636 Imagination Library books to children living in Miami County, ensuring the program remains free to participating families.
“I applaud Upper Valley Medical Center for supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Miami County and investing in early childhood literacy,” said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. “Our local partner, Troy-Miami County Public Library, has managed Miami County’s Imagination Library program for over 10 years now, and this investment will allow the library to expand the program, reaching even more children in the community.”
Each year, UVMC’s Community Benefit Fund supports Miami County health-related organizations to help improve residents’ health and well-being. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Miami County was chosen as a recipient of the 2024 Community Benefit Grants.
“We are grateful to the hospital parent board for providing this donation,” said Kevin Harlan, UVMC president. “The UVMC Community Benefit Fund was established to support local initiatives and like-minded organizations that help serve the health and wellness needs of Miami County. This aligns with the Premier Health vision of inspiring better health and our mission to care, teach, innovate and serve.”
In Miami County, the Troy-Miami County Public Library has served as the local program partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library since November 2013. Currently, more than 4,300 children in Miami County are participating in the Imagination Library program, and receiving a monthly book in the mail.
TMCPL pays for one-half of each book mailed, and matching funds are provided by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, thanks to funding from the Ohio General Assembly. Each book is $2.20.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio is a book gifting program available to every child between birth and age five in Ohio at no cost to families. Each child is mailed one age-appropriate book each month until his or her fifth birthday. Caregivers can sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio at OhioImaginationLibrary.org.
