Inspiring a Love of Reading Across the San Juan Islands
Every child deserves the chance to discover the magic of books.
United Way of San Juan County is proud to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, helping children across San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book mailed directly to their home every month from birth to age five.
There is no cost to participating families.
More Than 260 Island Children and Growing
Dolly Parton created the Imagination Library in 1995 with a simple but powerful goal: to inspire a love of reading in young children and ensure that every child could have books of their own, regardless of their family's income.
Today, that vision is thriving right here in San Juan County.
More than 260 local children are currently enrolled across our three major islands:
San Juan Island: 132 children
Orcas Island: 87 children
Lopez Island: 44 children
Each month, another book arrives addressed especially to the child. Over the course of the program, a child enrolled from birth can build a home library of up to 60 books before their fifth birthday.
United Way's Role
While Dolly dreamed it, local partnerships make it possible.
United Way of San Juan County helps fund the local costs of bringing the Imagination Library to island families. We work alongside our library and community partners to help ensure children throughout the county have access to books during some of the most important years for early learning and development.
Our local partners include the Friends of the San Juan Island Library, San Juan Island Library, Friends of the Lopez Island Library, and Friends of the Orcas Island Library.
It is a partnership we're especially proud of because its impact happens right inside island homes: children opening a package addressed to them, families reading together, new words being discovered, and home libraries growing one book at a time.
Books for English- and Spanish-Speaking Families
Families can choose the book collection that works best for their household.
The Imagination Library offers an English collection, which includes some bilingual titles, as well as a 100% bilingual English/Spanish collection.
This option helps more families experience the joy of reading together while giving children access to books that support both English and Spanish language development.
Why Early Literacy Matters
A book delivered each month may seem like a small thing, but those books create opportunities for something much bigger.
Reading together encourages language development, introduces children to new ideas and experiences, builds early literacy skills, and creates meaningful time between children and their caregivers.
Most importantly, the Imagination Library helps make books a familiar and exciting part of childhood.
Enroll Your Child
Do you have a child under age five living in San Juan County?
They may be eligible to receive a FREE book in the mail every month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
There is no income requirement, and participation is completely free for families.
ENROLL IN THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY HERE
Already enrolled? Help us spread the word! Share the Imagination Library with another island family with a child under five and help us put even more books into the hands of our youngest islanders.
Dream More. Learn More. Care More. Be More.
We are honored to help carry Dolly Parton's vision forward in San Juan County and grateful to the local partners who make this program possible.
One child. One book each month. A lifetime of possibilities.
Help Put More Books in the Hands of Island Kids
Your gift to United Way of San Juan County helps support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and other local programs that give children and families across our islands the opportunity to thrive.
Help us keep the pages turning for San Juan County’s youngest readers.