Free book program for children in Washington at risk of losing funding

SPOKANE, Wash. — A popular program for families in Washington is in danger of losing its funding.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a free program that guarantees a free book every month for every preschooler enrolled, from the moment they are born, until they turn 5-years-old.

Washington is one of 20 states currently enrolled in the program.

But for the first time since 2022, the program wasn’t included in Washington’s most recent budget, meaning state funding for Imagination Library will end in June.

“There’s 30,000 preschoolers in Spokane, ages zero to five that we want to be able to reach, and we’d like to be able to continue this program as a design with the state match,” said Dan Dent, CEO of United Way Spokane County.

United Way Spokane County joined the program in Washington in 2022. Today, they have close to 10,000 children enrolled locally.

“It’s something they can anticipate they can be hopeful for. They can be excited when they arrive. The hope is that it creates that engagement each month with their families when they are sitting down and reading to their little kids,” Dent said.

A book costs around $2.60. With state funding, United Way only pays about $1.30, with postage.

The organization is concerned that it will become much more expensive to get books to children without the state funding.

“We would be faced with a couple of challenges. We would either have to find new ways to raise funds to support that other 50% that has been matched, or we’d have to find ways to cut back the program,” Dent said.

United Way Spokane County already paused enrollment in the program while they work to catch up with demand.

It is hoping to find a way around the potential budget cut so children can continue learning to love reading.

“They get to keep the books and then that becomes a generational thing within the family and they’re able to build up a little library,” Dent said. “It’s a powerful thing that lasts.”