Rio Arriba Imagination Library

About Us

Once a month, the Rio Arriba Imagination Library (RAIL) mails a brand-new book directly to children, FREE of charge. These are high-quality books that are chosen by experts in the education and writing field and are appropriately based on the child's age. According to decades of research, the SINGLE MOST significant factor influencing early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home before formally entering the school setting. In addition to raising childhood literacy rates, one of RAIL's goals is to foster a love of reading among children and their families by encouraging parents and caregivers to read aloud for a minimum of 15 minutes per day. This helps to create a culture of reading for enjoyment while making a special bonding moment for all involved. We hear constant praises about the thrill and excitement children show each month when they find a new book waiting for them in their mailbox. The importance of this program for Rio Arriba County cannot be overstated. With poverty rates at nearly twice the national average, buying new books can be a luxury for many families that they simply cannot afford.

girl in red shirt lying on bed reading book

RAIL is a public charity recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS under Section 501(c)(3); with the Friends of the Espanola Public Library serving as fiscal agent.

Mission & History

The mission of the Rio Arriba Imagination Library (RAIL) is to promote reading readiness and language proficiency for the children of Rio Arriba County.

In January 2019 a diverse group of interested Espanola Valley community members, which included local nonprofits, community services, and governmental agencies, began meeting with the common goal of starting a community Imagination Library, a program that mails free books to children throughout Rio Arriba County.

Inspired by her father’s inability to read or write, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library started in 1995 as a local effort in Dolly’s home, Sevier County, Tennessee. Currently, her program spans five countries and gifts over 2 million free books each month to children around the world.

The formation of the Rio Arriba Imagination Library (RAIL) has been a success! RAIL became a Dolly Parton affiliate in 2019 and began enrolling children from infant to preschool age in October of that year. We entered 2024 by reaching significant milestones, and we are now giving a brand-new book to over 600 children each month in Rio Arriba County. Since our inception, we have gifted a total of 21,197 books to our community.

We have also "graduated" nearly 400 five-year-old children from the program, all with greater exposure to books, and ultimately a better chance of becoming a successful reader/student.