Will County to welcome Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is coming to Will County and kickoff fundraising event will be Jan. 30.

The Imagination Library is a book-gifting program, “which mails free, high-quality and age-appropriate books to children from birth to age 5,” according to a news release from the Will County Executive Office.

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and the Will County Center for Economic Development are partnering with The Dollywood Foundation to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Will County, according to the release.

Only $16 will enable a child to receive one year of free books, according to the release.

“The power of books is undeniable,” Bertino-Tarrant said in the release. “The earlier we get them into our children’s hands, the more opportunities we provide for our earliest learners. We have a unique opportunity, with the help of the State of Illinois, to develop emergent readers and create a foundation for the love of books.”

In order to begin registering local children, a fundraising goal of $150,000 has been established to sustain operations for the first two years, according to the release.

To help raise funds, The “Imagination Celebration – A Dolly Parton Birthday Book Bash” will be at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St. in Joliet.

The fundraiser will include a celebratory reception and a showing of the 1980 classic movie “9 to 5” starring Dolly Parton. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m followed by the movie at 7 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will support the Imagination Library of Will County, according to the release.

In addition, The Imagination Library of Will County is supported by the statewide expansion of the program launched by Gov. JB Pritzker in December 2023, according to the release.

“We have a unique opportunity, with the help of the State of Illinois, to develop emergent readers and create a foundation for the love of books.”

—   Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County executive

The state program matches every dollar raised locally, according to the release.

“Today’s young readers are the innovators and business leaders of the future,” Doug Pryor, president and chief executive officer of the Will County Center for Economic Development, said in the release. “Investing in early childhood education builds a better foundation for students when they enter school and encourages a cycle of success that benefits both the students and their community.”

And on Dec. 10, Lockport Woman’s Club became the program’s first sponsor by donating $5,000 to the Imagination Library of Will County, according to the release.

“Having founded the Lockport Library in 1922, the Lockport Woman’s Club recognizes the Dolly Parton Imagination Library as an excellent opportunity to continue supporting reading and literacy within the community,” Janine Wheeler, president of the Lockport Woman’s Club, said in the release. “We are honored to be part of this meaningful project that will benefit so many children.”

Where to buy tickets to the fundraiser

Tickets cost $20 and are available for purchase Dec. 26 at the following locations:

• Rialto Square Theatre box office: Noon to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet. The Rialto Box Office will be closed between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 for the holidays.

• Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 116 N. Chicago St., Suite 110, Joliet.

• Plainfield Shorewood Chamber of Commerce: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 24109 W. Lockport St., Plainfield.

• Lockport Chamber of Commerce; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 222 E. 9th St., third Floor, Lockport.

For information about the Imagination Celebration event, email maureen@thedunloegroup.com.

To donate to the Imagination Library of Will County, including sponsoring a child to receive one year of free books for $16, visit WillCountyImaginationLibrary.org.

About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library launched in 1995 and is the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, according to the release,

The organization has gifted more 250 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and The Republic of Ireland, according to the release,

Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For information, visit willcountyimaginationlibrary.org.