ARTICLE 6. Statewide Imagination Library Program [19350. - 19354.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 6.

in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19350. Section 19350.

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.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19351. Section 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) 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) (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) 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) For purposes of this section, “qualified local entity” means any existing or new local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19352. Section 19352.

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.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19353. Section 19353.

The State Librarian shall do all of the following: (a) Promote the statewide development of local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs. (b) Advance and strengthen local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs with the goal of increasing enrollment. (c) Recruit volunteers to assist in the development, promotion, and coordination of the programs. (d) Solicit donations, gifts, and other funding to financially support local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs. (e) Develop community engagement. (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) Administer the local match requirement and coordinate the collection and remittance of local program costs for books and mailing. (h) Develop statewide marketing and communication plans. (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) The deposits made to, and expenditures made from, the Imagination Library of California Fund. (B) Whether any local match requirements were waived. (C) How many local programs exist, where they are located, and which entity or organization serves as the local partner. (D) How many children are enrolled and how many books have been sent to enrolled children. (2) The report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 19354. Section 19354.

The California State Library may promulgate regulations as may be needed for the administration of the Statewide Imagination Library Program.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026