Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the North Country

Early literacy is one of the strongest predictors of long-term educational success, economic stability, and overall well-being. In rural regions like the North Country, access gaps can be wider due to distance, transportation barriers, and limited household resources. Programs like Dolly Parton's Imagination Library help close those gaps by ensuring that every enrolled child, regardless of zip code or income, starts life with consistent access to books.

This is not about charity. It is about infrastructure. Books in homes strengthen families, reduce later educational costs, and support school readiness across entire communities. Even small contributions matter because the per-child cost is so low. A few dollars can mean a book on a nightstand, a bedtime routine, and a parent reading aloud to a child who might otherwise go without.

Thanks to a recent community push, the program is fully funded through 2026. That success reflects strong local commitment and growing awareness, including recent coverage by New Hampshire Public Radio. Ongoing support ensures long-term sustainability beyond the current funding horizon.

Local Participation and Community Costs

Below is a snapshot of how many children are enrolled across North Country communities and what that participation costs annually. These figures show how small the investment is when spread across a town, and how powerful the collective impact becomes at the regional level.

Coös County Communities
Berlin: 111 children — $3,463/year
Bretton Woods: 1 child — $31/year
Colebrook: 16 children — $498/year
Columbia: 10 children — $312/year
Dalton: 17 children — $530/year
Dummer: 4 children — $125/year
Errol: 5 children — $156/year
Gorham: 16 children — $498/year
Groveton: 16 children — $498/year
Jefferson: 22 children — $686/year
Lancaster: 81 children — $2,527/year
Lisbon: 22 children — $686/year
Milan: 15 children — $468/year
North Stratford: 7 children — $218/year
Northumberland: 6 children — $187/year
Pittsburg: 5 children — $156/year
Randolph: 4 children — $125/year
Shelburne: 1 child — $31/year
Stark: 9 children — ~$281/year
Stewartstown: 2 children — $62/year
Stratford: 2 children — $62/year
Twin Mountain: 10 children — $312/year
West Stewartstown: 4 children — $125/year
Whitefield: 57 children — $1,778/year
Coös County subtotal: 443 children — $13,822/year

Grafton County Communities
Bath: 7 children — $218/year
Easton: 2 children — $62/year
Franconia: 12 children — $374/year
Landaff: 2 children — $62/year
Littleton: 81 children — $2,527/year
Lyman: 4 children — $125/year
Monroe: 11 children — $343/year
Sugar Hill: 3 children — $94/year
Grafton County subtotal: 122 children — $1,488/year

North Country Total
565 children enrolled - $15,280 per year

For the entire North Country, the cost to ensure that every enrolled child ages 0–5 receives a new book every month for a full year is modest, especially when weighed against the long-term benefits. It is a small, steady investment with outsized returns for families, schools, and the region as a whole.

Donations of any amount help sustain this work. Whether covering a month, a year, or simply contributing what is feasible, every dollar directly supports North Country children and their future.

To learn more about how communities across the North Country have come together to sustain this program, we invite you to read recent coverage by New Hampshire Public Radio.

In North Country residents work to keep Dolly Parton’s free children's library in the region, reporter Jackie Harris highlights the local effort behind Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and why continued community support matters.

Read the full story on NHPR: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-01-06/dolly-parton-library-books-north-country-nh-new-hampshire