Each Child. Every Community.

In 2017, North Carolina’s state lawmakers included $3.5 million in the first year and $7 million in the second year of the state budget for Smart Start to administer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) across North Carolina. Over the years, the state has provided additional funding to help bring DPIL to children and families across North Carolina.   

Since 2017, over 21 million books have been put in the hands of North Carolina’s youngest and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continues to serve children in every Zip Code of North Carolina! 

Thanks to our Partnership with DPIL and funding from the NC General Assembly, children birth–to–age five have been able to receive a free book every month for the last seven years.  

The state-funded DPIL program has been so successful and we have reached capacity with our state funding. As a result. some North Carolina counties have closed NEW DPIL enrollment as of February 1, 2025.  

All children who are registered and receiving books by February 1, 2025, will continue receiving a book each month until age five.  

Due to county-specific funding opportunities Each Smart Start Local Partnership has two options: 

1. Close NEW DPIL registrations, in the state account, as of February 1,2025. 
2. CONTINUE NEW DPIL enrollments, in a local account, as of February 1, 2025. We are thankful for generous private funding that makes it possible for additional children in some counties to continue receiving books every month at no cost to the family. 

The Smart Start Network remains committed to early literacy as the foundation for a child’s success in life. NC Partnership for Children will continue to work hard to secure additional funding to resume statewide enrollment and to expand our overall literacy impact.