At Best Beginnings, we know that early childhood is the foundation for a lifetime of learning and success. This spring, we’ve seen incredible growth—not just in numbers, but in partnerships, community engagement, and statewide impact. I’m excited to share some highlights from our work over the last few months, and a glimpse of what’s ahead.
📚Imagination Library in Alaska Hits New Heights
As of March 2025, more than 15,000 children across the state are enrolled in Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library Alaska—the most we’ve served since 2021. This milestone is a testament to our community’s shared commitment to early literacy and school readiness. As well as the growing need for more educational resources to support our youngest children. The most significant growth has come from the Anchorage and Mat-Su regions, with more than 1,000 new children enrolled over the past year. This was made possible through generous support from the Municipality of Anchorage and the Mat-Su Health Foundation. We are deeply grateful for these partnerships.
However, growth comes with its challenges. Due to continued increases in postage and shipping,
the cost of delivering books in Alaska has risen to $35 per child per year—up from $30. Many local programs are feeling the strain, and some communities are at risk of losing their program altogether without additional support. We’re working with state legislators to ensure this treasured program has the support it needs to keep putting books into the hands of young children, while also focusing on strengthening our own capacity to both build more and do more with less.
AIL How It Works
But the Imagination Library is about so much more than books. It’s about building connections—to stories, to community resources, and to one another. As one of the largest early childhood service providers in the state, we recognize how important it is that we continue to serve as a vehicle for families to find information and resources on supporting their child’s growth and development. In a climate where funding for education and our beloved libraries feels so uncertain, we know the connection we have with Alaska families is even more important. It’s a relationship we cherish and vow to protect.
✨New Partnerships that Spark Joy (and Reading!)
We believe literacy thrives in community. This spring, we teamed up with the Anchorage Wolverines for a month-long reading campaign that included a book drive, reading logs for kids,and free hockey tickets as a reward for reading.
We also joined forces with Home Depot to prepare our Little Free Libraries across Anchorage for summer, ensuring families can continue finding free, high-quality books in their neighborhoods. And stay tuned—we’re cooking up something fun for this summer with the Glacier Pilots that combines books, baseball, and community spirit.
We launched Books and Brushes – a collaborative art project for preschoolers that combines
storytime with fine motor skills, creative expression, and local artists to bring their beloved
Imagination Library stories to life. And we continued to provide even more engaging family
events for families focused on literacy, like our Snowy Day sledding event at Kincaid.
🏫 Supporting Educators to Empower Families
Books do more than teach letters—they create moments. This spring, we offered training to early
childhood educators on how to extend literacy and family engagement beyond the classroom.
These workshops focused on using books to nurture social-emotional development and
strengthen bonds between children and caregivers.
🔆 Advocating for a Brighter Future
Our advocacy work continues as we push for policies that support children and families in
Alaska. That includes expanding access to high-quality child care, increasing eligibility and for
the Infant Learning Program, supporting our Head Start programs, and strengthening funding
for the Imagination Library.
In addition, Best Beginnings is playing a leadership role in statewide initiatives such as the
Alaska Early Childhood Strategic Direction Plan and the Anchorage Early Childhood
Coalition’s updated community goals. It’s inspiring to see so many people and organizations
working together to build a stronger foundation for Alaska’s children.
✈️ Sharing Our Story on a National Stage
In June, I’ll be traveling to a regional gathering of Library of Congress Literacy Awards
recipients. It’s an honor to represent Alaska, share our progress, learn from others, and bring
back new ideas to strengthen our work here at home.
We’re proud of all that we’ve accomplished this year—and even more excited for what’s to
come. Whether you’re a parent, an educator, a policymaker, or a community partner, your
support makes all of this possible.
Thank you for believing in the power of early literacy. Together, we’re creating a future where
every Alaska child has the tools they need to thrive.
With gratitude,
Amie Collins
Executive Director
Best Beginnings Alaska
