Gov. Mike DeWine declared Sept. 25 Dolly Parton Day, honoring the Imagination Library program that sends free books to Warren County children each month.
DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel signed the proclamation Monday, Sept. 14, to honor Parton's life and generosity, Fox 19 reported. Parton died Aug. 25.
The Sept. 25 observance marks the second time DeWine has proclaimed a Dolly Parton Day. The first came in August 2022, when Parton visited Ohio to celebrate the Imagination Library, cleveland.com reported.
Nearly 28 million books delivered
The statewide program launched in August 2019 and reached all 88 counties by November 2020. It mails one free, age-appropriate book each month to enrolled children from birth until their fifth birthday. A child enrolled at birth can receive up to 60 books.
"Because of Dolly's vision and generosity, over one million Ohio children have received free books in the mail, totaling nearly 28 million books," First Lady Fran DeWine said in a statement after Parton's death on Aug. 25.
The program now reaches about 65% of eligible Ohio children. Ohio has more participating families than any other state, according to the governor's office.
First Lady DeWine championed the program's expansion after seeing its impact on her own grandchildren, ABC6 reported. On Sept. 12, 2025, Ohio became the first state to let parents enroll newborns through the birth-certificate process at the hospital, News 5 Cleveland reported.
How Mason-area families can sign up
All Warren County children under five are eligible at no cost. The program is a cooperative effort among the five Warren County libraries, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the Ohio Governor's Imagination Library and the Warren County Foundation, according to the Mason Public Library.
Families can enroll online at OhioImaginationLibrary.org or pick up a paper form at Mason Public Library. The first book arrives within eight to 12 weeks of enrollment.
Newborn enrollment is also available at every Ohio birthing hospital through the birth-certificate paperwork.
Coming up
- Sept. 25 — Dolly Parton Day in Ohio. Families can mark the day by enrolling a child at OhioImaginationLibrary.org or visiting Mason Public Library for a paper form.
