Over 178,000 books have been mailed to local children
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – This month marks the one-year anniversary of the introduction of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Santa Clara County, an initiative led locally by the Santa Clara County Library District. The Santa Clara County Imagination Library has mailed over 178,000 books to the homes of local kids ages 0-5.
“Libraries are all about putting books in the hands of children starting at birth, and this initiative has done a wonderful job of accomplishing this goal,” said County Librarian Jennifer Weeks. “The ongoing impact of this important program is a testament to the legacy of Dolly Parton. The Imagination Library will help inspire generations of kids to develop a lifelong love of reading.”
The goal is to enroll every eligible child throughout Santa Clara County to receive free books. Once enrolled, a free English or bilingual Spanish language title (as determined by the parents/caregivers) is mailed to them once a month until the child turns 5 years old.
Children enrolled in the program were nine times more likely to be interested in books and after just 10 books, children were at least four times more likely to demonstrate stronger emerging literacy skills according to the 2025 Global Study for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Here are some of the key statistics from the first year of the program:
- 23,300 children registered (25% eligible children enrolled)
- 3,000+ children graduated (in addition to enrolled)
- 178,000 books mailed
- Largest program in California with the most children enrolled
In addition to funding partners Santa Clara County Library District Foundation and the Gilroy Foundation in association with Susie Seledon Literacy Fund, other Santa Clara County promotional partners include the Kiwanis International, Los Gatos Library, Mountain View Public Library, Palo Alto City Library, Rotary District 5170, San Jose Public Library, Santa Clara City Library, and Sunnyvale Public Library.
Donations to support the Santa Clara County Imagination Library are welcome. With the state match, a donation of $15.50 provides one child with a full year of Imagination Library books and a donation of $155 provides 10 children with books for a year. Donations of any amount are appreciated, and all donations are tax deductible. For more information, visit sccld.org/imaginationlibrary.
About the Santa Clara County Library District
The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) promotes knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment. Founded in 1914, its collection includes more than 2 million books, videos, audiobooks, eBooks and extensive online resources accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
SCCLD includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library, serving the cities of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. In 2025, SCCLD had nearly 400,000 library accounts, 1.1 million unique website visits, and a circulation of over 12.3 million items. Program attendance was over 247,000 with more than 2.7 million visitors overall.
Find the Santa Clara County Library District online: www.sccld.org
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