On December 6, country music legend Dolly Parton joined Gov. Janet Mills, the current governor of Maine, at the National Governor's Association summer meeting Friday in Portland to talk about the free-books program for young children in Maine.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was launched in 1995 in her hometown of Sevier County, TN. This imagination library program is an early childhood literacy initiative that mails 2 million free books to babies and children under five every month. Parton envisioned a program to develop children's love for books, inspired by her father, who cannot read and write.

Parton, via video link, expressed her gratitude to Mills for the state's effort in making the Imagination Library Program available statewide. Parton also thanked those involved in making the program successful. Mills also expressed gratitude for her mother, who introduced her to the world of reading and fostered a lasting passion for books. She is excited to contribute to the expansion of the Parton Imagination Library throughout Maine and empower thousands of children in the state to enhance their reading abilities and develop a love for reading.

In an NGA meeting last year, Mills announced that Maine would join Parton's Imagination Library. The program aims to enhance the development and literacy skills of young children. Through the Maine State Library, the program's target is to distribute 106,000 books from Parton's collection to over 14,000 children in Maine by the end of 2023. Mills expressed her excitement about implementing the program and highlighted the generational impact that this initiative will bring. Parton also expressed her love for books and excitement to bring them into the hands of children in Maine and the world. Such an announcement was made before 18 other governors at a meeting of the National Governors Association in Portland.

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The initiative provided free books to children aged birth to five, fostering a passion for reading as she had developed in her early days. The slogan 'dream more, learn more, care more, be more' encapsulates the ethos behind this initiative. The program continues to grow and expand to more countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland.

Mills announced that approximately 4,500 eligible children in Maine are receiving free books offered through Parton's book-gifting initiative distributed through 12 partners across the state. The Dollywood Foundation and the Maine State Library, collaborating with libraries, community nonprofits, the Maine Department of Education, and school systems, are working together to institute and broaden the program statewide.

While the implementation has faced delays compared with the initial timeline set in July 2022, the program's objective remains to send 106,000 books from Parton's collection to over 14,000 children in Maine by the conclusion of 2023. This program will enhance young children's development and literacy skills in the state and worldwide. 

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