Hopes to bring 'Dolly Parton's Imagination Library' to life on the IoM

Team working '9 to 5' to set-up book gifting initiative

A Manx charity is working '9 to 5' to get a special initiative up and running on the Island.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a gifting program that posts free books to children, from birth to age five, no matter their family's income.

Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write the country singer started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county in East Tennessee. 

In the years since it has expanded throughout the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Ireland.

Two million books are gifted each month and almost a quarter of a billion have been gifted in total.

Now there are hopes the scheme could be successfully launched on the Isle of Man helping youngsters build their own library of 60 books.

The project is expanded into each new area by a local partner - they're responsible for raising the funds to cover the cost of the books (plus postage and packaging). 

Based on the 2021 census, and considering birth rate and population forecasts, the Manx group has estimated that to fund books for all eligible children it would need to raise approximately £90,000 per year.

Charity Director Trish McDonough told Manx Radio if that's achieved it'd be a fantastic return on investment:

Now a registered charity the group is hoping to launch the scheme as soon as funding is secured - feeding into the country legend's dream that 'all children should grow up in a home full of books'.

Siobhán Fletcher caught up with the people behind the project to find out more:

The Isle of Man Imagination Library will be running a stall at Tynwald Day in St John's for those interested in finding out more.

They'll be in the north-east corner of the fairfield.

You can find out more about the project in general HERE.