A day after the House GOP green-lighted its two-year budget, minus support for country music icon Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Gov. Mike Braun drafted his wife to raise money for the state’s share of the $6 million program.
Braun left it out of his budget proposal and House members also failed to include the popular program in the $47.6 billion budget, approved Feb. 20 along party lines.
Democrats tried to add the funding to the budget, but their attempts were voted down.
Former Gov. Eric Holcomb added the Imagination Library in 2023 with a $6 million allocation. It’s now in all 92 Indiana counties as early elementary grade teachers and literacy advocates say reading skills equate to better academic outcomes.
The failure to help fund the free books program for young children comes as Indiana’s child literacy ranking increased from 19th to sixth nationwide, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
On Friday, Braun announced his wife, Maureen Braun, agreed to head up an effort to raise money to keep the Imagination Library afloat in the state.
A press release from Braun’s office didn’t explain why he left the state’s 50% program match out of his budget.
Nonprofit groups, including the Porter County Community Foundation and the Lake County Public Library Foundation, finance the other 50% of the match. Financing the whole amount could be challenging for the groups that rely on public donations.
Braun said he valued literacy and learning and he said his wife would work with philanthropic partners and in consultation with state leadership to identify funding opportunities for the book distribution program that reached thousands of youngsters last year.
“I have asked my gracious wife, First Lady Maureen Braun, to spearhead an initiative to keep Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Indiana,” said Braun.
Maureen Braun said she wants to ensure children have as much exposure as possible to books and learning.
“Indiana has many strong community partners and I am confident we will collaborate on a solution that grows children’s love of reading.”
Jeff Conyers, president of the Dollywood Foundation in Sevierville, Tenn., thanked Braun for his commitment to early literacy and for the leadership of Maureen Braun.
Parton started the Imagination Library in 1995 under the Dollywood Foundation’s umbrella. The program sends age-appropriate books to children’s homes from birth to age five to inspire kids to enjoy books and reading.
“The Imagination Library brings the joy of reading to over 125,000 Hoosier children each month in all 92 counties across the state, and we are encouraged by Governor and First Lady Braun’s support to ensure its future in Indiana,” Conyers said.
Indiana is one of 21 states that take part in the program. Parents in Lake and Porter counties can sign up their children to receive a free book each month through the Lake County Public Library and the Porter County and Westchester libraries.
It’s still possible for the state’s $6 million allocation to be added as the budget bill shifts to the Senate for consideration.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
