Nottingham has reached a significant literacy milestone with the delivery of 600,000 free books to children under the age of five. To mark this achievement, Nottingham City Council confirmed a £150,000 funding boost for the local branch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This investment is designed to expand the program’s reach, ensuring thousands more families can access high-quality reading materials at no cost.
The scheme provides a monthly, age-appropriate book delivered directly to a child’s home from birth until their fifth birthday. This consistent access to literature is linked to improved school readiness and stronger language skills by the time children begin formal education. With the new funding, an estimated 5,700 additional children in the city will be eligible to join the program.
Reader context
- Total books delivered: 600,000 since the local launch.
- New funding allocation: £150,000 from Nottingham City Council.
- Target demographic: Children aged 0–5 living in specific city wards.
- Expansion impact: Capacity for 5,700 more children to register.
- Core partners: Rotary Club of Nottingham and the Dolly Parton Foundation.
Expansion into Bestwood and priority wards
The Nottingham Imagination Library currently focuses its resources on specific areas where the impact on early literacy is most needed. These priority wards include Bilborough, Aspley, Bulwell, and Radford. Currently, nearly 3,000 children across these neighborhoods are registered and receiving books every month.
Bestwood is the most recent ward to be integrated into the scheme. Since its inclusion in September last year, over 100 babies in the area have been registered. The council’s latest financial commitment aims to replicate this success across other parts of the city, addressing the demand for early years educational support. The program is specifically structured to help children from diverse backgrounds start school with the vocabulary and comprehension skills necessary for long-term academic success.
Funding for 5,700 additional Nottingham children
The £150,000 allocation is part of a broader £7.6 million investment program by the council into essential local services. This specific portion of the budget ensures the Imagination Library can maintain its current commitments while opening doors for 5,700 more children.
Councillor David Mellen, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Tourism, noted that reaching the 600,000-book mark is a major achievement for the city’s educational landscape. He emphasized that these books have helped thousands of children develop a genuine love of reading. While the council’s contribution provides a significant uplift, the long-term goal remains to offer the scheme to every single child living within the city boundaries.
Partnership with the Dolly Parton Foundation and Rotary Club
The initiative has deep roots in the community, beginning in 2009 through the Dolly Parton Foundation. It was formally established in Bilborough in 2012, following a partnership between the City Council and the Rotary Club of Nottingham. This collaboration has allowed the scheme to grow from a small local pilot into a city-wide operation that has now distributed over half a million books.
By providing books from birth, the scheme encourages parents to read with their children daily, fostering a habit that supports cognitive development. The selection of books is carefully curated to be age-appropriate, moving from simple board books for infants to more complex stories for four-year-olds preparing for primary school.
Support options for local residents and businesses
Maintaining the momentum of the Imagination Library relies on a combination of public funding and private donations. Councillor Cheryl Barnard, the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and a Trustee of the Nottingham Imagination Library, has designated the program as one of her official charities for the year. This designation is expected to drive further fundraising efforts across the city.
Local residents and businesses can contribute directly to the scheme’s sustainability. The cost of providing a book to one child is approximately £2 per month, while a donation of £125 can support a child’s entire five-year journey through the program. Donations are managed through the Nottingham Imagination Library, with all funds going toward the purchase and delivery of books for local families.
Source: Nottingham City Council
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