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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SJR 54/GA
Page 1 of 2
SJR005410.100 - 1582 - XXXX 3/6/2026 10:50 AM GA
A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Department for Libraries and Archives and 1
the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to cooperate in exploring wa ys to increase 2
enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program. 3
WHEREAS, the Imagination Library, founded by the American icon, entertainer, 4
businesswoman, and philanthropist Dolly Parton, was inspired by her father who could 5
not read or write and is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading; and 6
WHEREAS, this book-gifting program sends high quality, age-appropriate books to 7
children from birth to age five each month, regardless of their family's income; and 8
WHEREAS, the program is supported by a 50 /50 match in funding from Dolly 9
Parton and local community partners; and 10
WHEREAS, research shows that children's brains develop connections faster in the 11
first five years than at any other time in their lives; and 12
WHEREAS, books in the home and daily read ing provide parents the greatest 13
opportunity for preparing their child for school; and 14
WHEREAS, literacy is a major social determinant of health and economic impact; 15
and 16
WHEREAS, Kentucky can make a sensible, affordable, effective, and foundational 17
investment to help ensure success in K-12 and beyond by investing up to $77.50 per child 18
from birth to age five, for a total of 60 books over five years; and 19
WHEREAS, 52 percent of the eligible birth to age five children currently are 20
enrolled in the 134 local Imagination Library Programs in Kentucky; and 21
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to ensure that 22
all communities have equal ac cess to and information about the Imagination Library 23
Program; and 24
WHEREAS, Ohio has recently started to allow families to enroll in the Imagination 25
Library Program as part of the birth certificate completion process; and 26
WHEREAS, expanding enrollment in t he program would help ensure that every 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SJR 54/GA
Page 2 of 2
SJR005410.100 - 1582 - XXXX 3/6/2026 10:50 AM GA
Kentucky child, regardless of zip code or income, could begin life with the tools needed 1
to succeed and to thrive; and 2
WHEREAS, this matching funding model strengthens community ownership and 3
maintains program afford ability for local partners in all regions, including rural and 4
underserved communities; and 5
WHEREAS, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services is uniquely positioned to 6
facilitate enrollment in the Imagination Library through birth certificate enrollment and to 7
explore other ways to increase enrollment in the program in cooperation with the 8
Department for Libraries and Archives; 9
NOW, THEREFORE, 10
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 11
Section 1. The General Assembly hereby directs the Department for Libraries 12
and Archives and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to cooperate in exploring 13
ways to increase enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program, particula rly 14
in areas where enrollment is lower than the state average, to children from low -income 15
families, and to children living in foster care. Opportunities to enroll children as part of 16
the birth certificate completion process as well as other ways to increa se participation 17
shall be considered. 18
Section 2. The Department for Libraries and Archives and the Cabinet for 19
Health and Family Services are directed to submit a report on progress in identifying 20
ways to increase enrollment in the program to the Governor and the Legislative Research 21
Commission by November 1, 2026. 22