MONTEREY COUNTY — More than 2,500 Monterey County children have enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library since the free book program launched locally on June 18, according to an update presented during this week’s Monterey County News Briefing.
Rebeca Zuniga of First 5 Monterey County said approximately 24,000 children in the county are eligible for the program, which mails a free, high-quality book each month to children from birth to age 5. Since the launch, about 9.5% of eligible children have enrolled.
The program, previously unavailable in Monterey County, is offered locally through a partnership led by First 5 Monterey County, Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Initiative, Bright Futures Education Partnership and community partners, with seed funding from Taylor Farms.
Families can enroll children online at imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/CAMONTEREY/.
Enrolled children receive one free, age-appropriate book each month in either English or bilingual English-Spanish editions until their fifth birthday. A child enrolled at birth can receive up to 60 books before entering kindergarten.
