Dolly Parton library provides free books for Steel Valley kids

Steel Valley residents with children age 5 and younger can enroll their kids to receive one free book each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Mary Denison, founder and executive director of Reading Ready Pittsburgh, said residents of the 15120 ZIP code — generally Homestead, Munhall, West Homestead and parts of Whitaker — are eligible. She said parents can register online to start receiving books.

Denison said books provide an educational diversion for children isolated at home with parents during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We were hoping to start this awhile back, but it’s because of the coronavirus that we pushed it to start as quickly as it has,” she said. “We’re really hoping to get the word out to all of the families in that area that if they have a child under 5, they can get the free books. It’s really important for the success of children to have those opportunities when they’re young.”

Reading Ready Pittsburgh joined the city of Pittsburgh in becoming an affiliate of the Parton program. Pittsburgh last year opened its own branch of the library for city children.

Enrollment for Pittsburgh kids is still open, according to Tiffini Simoneaux, the city’s youth and education manager. She said more than 21,000 books have gone to Pittsburgh kids since the program started.

Pittsburgh residents can enroll their children through the city’s library portal.

“We have a little over 2,700 children in the program who are receiving books monthly,” Simoneaux said. “We also have over 300 children who have graduated from the program — the month of their 5th birthday when they receive their final book and age out of the program.”

Parton, the country music icon, started the library in Sevier County, Tenn., 25 years ago through her Dollywood Foundation. The Imagination Library has since mailed more than 115 million free books to children in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Reading Ready Pittsburgh, an advocate for child literacy, received a library startup grant from the Campbell Educational and Community Foundation. Denison said the nonprofit organization is looking for additional donors to continue the program in future years.