Indiana’s First Lady Visits the ACPL for Imagination Library Storytime

Indiana First Lady Maureen Braun visited the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) on Wednesday to celebrate early literacy and the growing impact of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Allen County, reading to local children during a special Storytime at the Main Library's StoryScape.

The event highlighted the community-wide partnership that has brought free, high-quality books to thousands of Allen County children each month. Since launching in late 2024, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Allen County has served more than 10,500 children and delivered more than 121,000 books, helping build kindergarten readiness and foster a lifelong love of reading.

"We are grateful to First Lady Braun for joining us to celebrate the remarkable impact this program is having across Allen County," said ACPL Executive Director Susan P. Baier. “We all play a role in supporting families and ensuring our youngest citizens are not only prepared, but excited, to read and learn. As a librarian, it is inspiring to see our First Lady embrace those efforts and use her position to shed a light on early literacy.”

First Lady Braun read “The Little Engine That Could” to a group of early elementary school students from the Boys and Girls Club and gave a new book to each child before they left. During her visit, Braun also toured the library, the Genealogy Center, and the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research.

“Reading opens up new worlds and opportunities for children and I’m so proud of our work with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana to help more kids and families in our state grow a love for books,” First Lady Braun said. “Reading together creates a time for parent and child to bond. That’s one of the benefits I love, as a parent and grandparent. The joy of reading brings people together.”

The Imagination Library relies in part upon a funding match from the State of Indiana to operate. In 2025, First Lady Braun adopted the program as a signature initiative and began statewide fundraising efforts to continue matching local affiliate funds and expand the program statewide. In early 2026, Indiana officially announced statewide access to the program for all eligible Hoosier children. First Lady Braun’s fundraising drew contributions from individuals and organizations across Indiana, as well as a significant donation from Google.

"At Google, we believe investing in our communities means supporting the organizations that help them thrive, which is why we are proud to partner with First Lady Maureen Braun and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana," said Kelly Rentschler, Community and Workforce Development Manager at Google. "Few investments are more important than building strong early literacy skills, and we are honored to help provide Hoosier children with the foundational tools they need to learn, grow and succeed. We also look forward to future opportunities to support the Allen County Public Library and its impact on local families."

The Imagination Library became a strategic priority for the ACPL in its 2024-28 Strategic Plan and the ACPL Foundation chose to take on the task of raising funds to launch the program. The community fundraising campaign raised the initial startup funds in just a few months through a mix of donations from individuals, philanthropic organizations, and grants. 

According to Baier, the program is "one of the most meaningful investments we can make in the future of our community, and we are so pleased to see all of the support. By working together, we can ensure the program will continue to serve Allen County children for years to come.” 

Community members interested in supporting the program or registering a child should visit acpl.info/imaginationlibrary.