Important Update Aug. 7, 2017
Increasing interest
We have received an unprecedented amount of interest in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library over the past two months, leading to an explosion of the waiting list. While the state of North Carolina did pass a budget with funds to expand the program in the state, we have not been informed of if or when we might receive funding (or how much!) to further expand beyond our current 500-child capacity.
Reaching our dreams
Please know that it is our intention to expand this program to as many children in Buncombe County as is financially possible. Right now, we do not have additional funding to serve more than 500 children per month. We hope that the state budget will impact enrollment positively. At this time it is unclear when we will have information about this from the state, but we are working closely with our partner Buncombe Partnership for Children to gather information as quickly as possible.
Right now, the waiting list is a year and a half long.
We know that it is not fair to add families to a waiting list on which they could have to wait multiple years under our current capacity, particularly if their children are likely to age out of the program while on the waiting list.
A temporary solution
We have therefore decided to temporarily stop accepting registrations for the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library waiting list at the Literacy Council of Buncombe County. Registrations postmarked Aug. 6, 2017 or earlier will still be added to the waiting list. We will continue to pursue information (together with Buncombe Partnership for Children) from the state about whether we qualify for funding through the state budget. If we receive funding in order to serve additional children, we will reopen the waiting list for new registrations. This will be announced on the Literacy Council of Buncombe County’s website and Facebook page.
Please don’t forget, if your child lives in Swannanoa, Black Mountain, or Montreat they are eligible to register through the Black Mountain Rotary Club, which does not currently have a waiting list. Click here to register with them.
We ask for your patience as we pursue the opportunity to expand this program. We share your goal of serving as many children as possible in our community.
