The Statewide Imagination Library Program is hereby established under the administration of the State Librarian for purposes of developing, implementing, promoting, and fostering a comprehensive statewide initiative for encouraging children from birth to five years of age, inclusive, to develop a love of reading and learning.
Article 6Statewide Imagination Library Program
Section § 19350
This law sets up the Statewide Imagination Library Program, which is managed by the State Librarian. The main goal of the program is to encourage young children, from birth until they turn five, to enjoy reading and learning.
Statewide Imagination Library Program State Librarian promoting reading fostering learning young children birth to five years early literacy reading initiative love of learning comprehensive statewide initiative child development education initiative reading program encouraging literacy early childhood education
Section § 19351
This law creates a special fund called the Imagination Library of California Fund to support the distribution of free, age-appropriate books to children from birth until they turn five. The money in the fund comes from various sources, including state appropriations, donations, and federal funds, and it is used to pay for the books without any cost to families through the program known as Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Local entities eligible to participate must match funds dollar-for-dollar, although the State Librarian can waive this requirement if it would cause financial strain. Qualified local entities include any local affiliates of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
(a)CA Education Code § 19351(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a fund which shall be known as the Imagination Library of California Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all moneys deposited in the fund, including state General Fund appropriations, public or private bequeaths, donations, gifts, or grants, and any federal funds, are continuously appropriated to the California State Library for purposes of this article.
(b)CA Education Code § 19351(b) Moneys from the fund shall be used to provide age-appropriate books on a monthly basis, at home, to each child registered in the program, from birth to their fifth birthday, inclusive, at no cost to families, through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
(c)Copy CA Education Code § 19351(c)
(1)Copy CA Education Code § 19351(c)(1) Moneys from the fund shall be allocated to qualified local entities that agree to a dollar-for-dollar match for purposes of the program.
(2)CA Education Code § 19351(c)(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the State Librarian may waive the dollar-for-dollar match requirement for a qualified local entity on a case-by-case
basis to prevent undue financial hardship.
(d)CA Education Code § 19351(d) For purposes of this section, “qualified local entity” means any existing or new local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate.
Imagination Library of California Fund Dolly Parton's Imagination Library children's books age-appropriate books free books program qualified local entities local affiliate State Librarian funding match financial hardship waiver birth to fifth birthday no cost to families state appropriations donations book distribution
Section § 19352
The State Librarian is required to work with a nonprofit organization, specifically one that focuses on promoting children's reading, to help put this article into action.
The State Librarian shall coordinate with a nonprofit entity, qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and organized solely to promote and encourage reading by the children of the state, for the purpose of implementing this article.
State Librarian nonprofit entity 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Code children reading promotion coordination nonprofit organization encouraging reading California article implementation kids reading programs literacy promotion educational support
Section § 19353
The State Librarian is responsible for promoting and supporting local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs across California. They must encourage growth and enrollment in these programs by recruiting volunteers and seeking donations. Additionally, the State Librarian should work on community engagement, marketing plans, and public awareness campaigns to inform people about donating and enrolling eligible children in the program. They are also tasked with managing funds and ensuring local costs for books and mailing are covered. By January 1, 2028, and every year after, the Librarian must report to the Legislature on financial activities, program locations, partnerships, enrollment numbers, and distributions of books.
The State Librarian shall do all of the following:
(a)CA Education Code § 19353(a) Promote the statewide development of local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs.
(b)CA Education Code § 19353(b) Advance and strengthen local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs with the goal of increasing enrollment.
(c)CA Education Code § 19353(c) Recruit volunteers to assist in the development, promotion, and coordination of the programs.
(d)CA Education Code § 19353(d) Solicit donations, gifts, and other funding to financially support local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs.
(e)CA Education Code § 19353(e) Develop community engagement.
(f)CA Education Code § 19353(f) Develop, promote, and coordinate a public awareness campaign to make donors aware of the opportunity to donate to the affiliate programs and make the public aware of the opportunity to register eligible children to receive books through the program.
(g)CA Education Code § 19353(g) Administer the local match requirement and coordinate the collection and remittance of local program costs for books and mailing.
(h)CA Education Code § 19353(h) Develop statewide marketing and communication plans.
(i)Copy CA Education Code § 19353(i)
(1)Copy CA Education Code § 19353(i)(1) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, report to the Legislature, by January 1,
2028, and annually thereafter, on all of the following:
(A)CA Education Code § 19353(i)(1)(A) The deposits made to, and expenditures made from, the Imagination Library of California Fund.
(B)CA Education Code § 19353(i)(1)(B) Whether any local match requirements were waived.
(C)CA Education Code § 19353(i)(1)(C) How many local programs exist, where they are located, and which entity or organization serves as the local partner.
(D)CA Education Code § 19353(i)(1)(D) How many children are enrolled and how many books have been sent to enrolled children.
(2)CA Education Code § 19353(i)(2) The report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
State Librarian Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library local programs enrollment volunteers recruitment donations community engagement public awareness campaign local match requirement statewide marketing Legislature report Imagination Library of California Fund children's books program growth financial support
Section § 19354
This law allows the California State Library to create rules necessary to manage the Statewide Imagination Library Program.
The California State Library may promulgate regulations as may be needed for the administration of the Statewide Imagination Library Program.
California State Library regulations administration Statewide Imagination Library Program rule-making authority program management library regulations Imagination Library state libraries library governance
