Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a free programme that gifts books to children. They will get a free book every month until they turn 5 years old.

The programme was started by Dolly Parton in 1995. She was inspired by her father, who couldn’t read or write. The programme’s goal is to help children everywhere love reading.

You can sign up for free books if;

  • your baby is born between 1st May 2025 and 30th April 2026
  • you live in Newcastle 

You can join the Imagination Library when you register your baby's birth. If you live in Newcastle but your baby is born in Gateshead, Cramlington or somewhere else, you can still sign up. Email imaginationlibrary@newcastle.gov.uk and they can add your child to receive books. 

Please email imaginationlibrary@newcastle.gov.uk if;

  • you move home
  • you don't want to get the books any more
  • you have any questions or feedback about the programme. 

Privacy Statement

What data is collected?

For your child to get a free book every month for the next five years, the Dollywood Foundation need your child’s:

Name – to address the book to them
Date of birth – so that they get the right book for their age
Home address – to send them the book
Parent or carer name

Sharing your email address also means we can contact you if you move house. We will also send emails to ask what you think of the books.

Who can access my data?

This data is secure and only a very small number of staff can access this. The small number of staff with access work for:

Newcastle City Council
The Dollywood Foundation
The company who post the books

All staff follow strict privacy rules.

Why are you collecting my data?

The Dollywood Foundation is based in the USA, and we must share your child’s data with them so that they can get the books. The data is shared on a secure system. Sometimes your child’s data will be used for research to help us learn if the project is working well or needs any changes. Before anyone can access this data, they must agree to privacy rules and cannot share your child’s data with anyone else.

Read the privacy statement

I hereby explicitly consent to allow the Dollywood Foundation, Inc. to use the information provided herein for the purposes of participating in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library book gifting programme. To measure the benefits of this programme we may create datasets with the information provided herein and share them with research and educational advancement partners. 

Information from https://childrenandfamiliesnewcastle.org.uk/
Printed on June 30th 2025
Page last updated
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