Mrs. Beshear also celebrates statewide coverage for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

To see photos from today’s event, click here.

ERLANGER, KY - On June 17, 2024, First Lady Britainy Beshear visited the Erlanger branch of the Kenton County Public Library to read with kids and cut the ribbon on the library’s newly renovated children’s section.

“This is an amazing day for kids in Kenton County, as we open the newly renovated children’s area at the Erlanger library branch, which will foster a love of reading for the rest of their lives,” Mrs. Beshear said. “We’re also celebrating Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky expanding to Kenton County, which means now, every child in the state can receive a free book every month from birth through age five. As First Lady, and as a mom, I’m so excited for even more families to have the chance to read and learn together.”

The $300,000 renovation includes all new flooring, new furniture and new bathrooms, as well as repainting. Other improvements include additional shelving, an expanded book collection and new toys. The Erlanger branch is one of the busiest libraries in the commonwealth and offers a wide variety of children’s programs and learning activities, in addition to books. The new children’s area is the first major renovation of the space since 2002.

“We were honored to have the First Lady visit our library and read to children,” said Dave Schroeder, the Kenton County Public Library executive director. “Early childhood literacy is one of our top priorities, and Storytimes and the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library help us improve literacy in our region.”

At the ribbon cutting, the First Lady also celebrated the Kenton County Public Library becoming a program partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) of Kentucky. This was the final partner needed for DPIL’s Kentucky chapter to serve preschool children in all 120 counties. Now, all Kentucky families can sign their children up to receive a free, age-appropriate book each month from birth through age five. To learn more, see the full press release announcing DPIL reaching statewide coverage.

To sign up a child, click here, or visit imaginationlibrary.com/kentucky. For just $13, anyone can sponsor a child to receive books from DPIL for one year. To donate to the organization, click here. Kentuckians can also follow DPIL of Kentucky on Facebook and Instagram.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the state and proud of the progress we’ve made over the past three years,” said JC Morgan, executive director of DPIL of Kentucky. “But we’re just getting started. We’ll keep working hard to spread the word until every Kentucky child gets to experience the joy of reading.”