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Parents of children ages 5 and under are encouraged to participate in a program through the Marietta Community Foundation.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was started in 1995 in Tennessee, but MCF didn't begin until 2017.
Heather Allender, president/CEO of the foundation, said they are an affiliate of the program.
"She built it on her own. She started with her home county in Tennessee and then went to the home state," Allender said.
In 2019, Ohio took the program statewide.
"We were an affiliate before then, but when the state got involved, we got a little more resources to help and that's when we really started pushing for it," she said.
Allender said the program handles a majority of the work, MCF still has to fundraise and register children in the county.
She said the fundraising they are doing is to help offset costs associated with the program.
The cost to the foundation is $25 per child per year, averaging out to little more than $2 per book.
The program is at no cost to the family.
"As soon as the parents enroll their children … essentially, the registration comes to us. In a sense we approve it and as soon as we complete that process, it is put into the Dolly Parton database," said Courtney Wentz, communication and program services director at the foundation. "Within eight weeks, a book will be mailed to their house. It has the child's name on it."
She said all of the books have been chosen by child psychology experts, "so you can make sure it's age appropriate. It's a good book in general."
Wentz said it's easy for the family, as a book shows up in the mail every month until the child turns five.
Allender said if the child is registered as a newborn, by the time they age out of the program, they'll have their own library of 60 books.
The books will age with the child, starting with board books for babies, she said.
The first book for every child is a customized version of "The Little Engine That Could." The month the child turns 5, they receive the customized book "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!"
The same book is given to each child in an age group. For instance, each child who is age 3 will receive the same book each month.
Wentz said there are several books that are sent out that Parton wrote, including "I Am a Rainbow."
Allender noted that according to a 2010 study, children growing up in homes with at least 20 books get three more years of schooling than children from bookless homes, independent of their parents' education, occupation and class.
Along with traditional children's books, there are also bilingual books and books in Braille, Wentz said.
"It's a program for all children, regardless of socioeconomic status," she said. "It's for all children."
Allender said there are 922 children registered and 511 have graduated from the program.
She noted they are pushing because they want the program to be sustainable.
"We're all about it being here forever," she said. "The ultimate goal is to support it for all children forever."
To register a child for the program, visit ohioimaginationlibrary.org/enroll.
For donations to help offset costs, visit the MCF offices at 100 Putnam St., Marietta or mail a check to the same address.
Wentz said donations are also taken through mcfohio.betterworld.org/campaigns/matchtheimagination.
MCF is matching up to $30,000 with more than $25,000 already raised.
Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.