Children's of Alabama to Serve as Enrollment Partner for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Birmingham, Ala. (Sept. 25, 2026)— In honor of “Give Like Dolly Day,” Children’s of Alabama announced it will act as an enrollment partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama. The pilot program will provide a copy of the Imagination Library’s welcome book, The Little Engine That Could, as well as enrollment materials to children under five being discharged from any of the hospital’s 24 inpatient units.

"When we give a child a book, we are giving them more than pages and words. We are giving them the opportunity to learn, imagine, and find comfort, no matter what challenges they may be facing," said Jennifer Conway, director of Child Life and Education. "Through this partnership, we hope to expand access to literacy resources for children and families during their time with us and beyond."

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama currently serves 124,000 children across all 67 Alabama counties and has mailed more than three million books since the launch of the statewide program in 2023.

“We’re so grateful for this partnership with Children’s of Alabama,” said Kaelyn Christian, State Director for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama. “The hospital serves young children at such a critical moment in their lives, and to send them home with the gift of reading is such an impactful way to honor Dolly’s legacy.”

The partnership is designed to bring literacy resources directly to children and families at discharge, creating an opportunity to connect them with free books and foster a lifelong love of reading.

“Thank you to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama for launching this meaningful partnership for the children in our care,” said Chandler Bibb, chief development officer. “We are proud to celebrate Dolly’s legacy, and the positive impact reading can have on the lives of children and families.”