Ready. Set. READ! FAQs

  • General Questions

    Yes! All books are free until your child turns five, when they graduate and stop receiving books. Books are mailed directly to your house and are yours to keep forever.

    You can enter the draw at any point as long as your child is 54 months of age or younger at the time of entry. Your entry will be valid for 365 days from when you entered. If you’re unsure whether it’s been over 365 since you last entered the draw, you can enter again. Duplicate entries will be removed before the draw takes place, and only the most recent entry will be kept.

    No, since your child will turn five before the first book is mailed out (7-10 weeks after your application is submitted).

    No, a library card is not required to apply to the program. However, EPL cards are FREE and let you borrow thousands of print and digital materials including books, movies, video games and more. To sign up online, visit epl.ca/FreeCard.

    If your child's application is approved, it generally takes 7-10 weeks from the time you apply until the first book arrives at your door.

    Here are a few examples:

    • You sign up on March 2. Books for children signed up in March will be mailed out in May.
    • You sign up on May 29. Books for children signed up in May will be mailed out in July.

    The list of titles is available here. Please note that book titles are subject to change based on supply chain issues.

    No. People can sign up for the draw entry at any point so there is no longer a need for a notification list. People who have signed up for our notification list in the past have been notified about entering the draw.

    Yes! Each child (54 months and under) must be entered separately. If selected, each child will receive an age-appropriate book based on their year of birth. Books may arrive at different times.

    All children 54 months of age and under living in Edmonton are eligible to enter the draw. Families can enter more than one child as long as they meet the age requirement.

    If you’re unsure whether it’s been a year since you last entered the draw, don’t worry! You can enter the draw again. Duplicate entries will be removed before the draw takes place, and only the most recent entry will be kept. This ensures that you're always included in the latest draw and that your entry is up to date.

    If your child is selected in the draw, you will receive an email with a link to complete the registration process. If you do not receive an email, your child will remain in the draw for future selections for up to a year.

    We do not have a waitlist, but you can enter the draw. If your child is not selected, they will remain in the system for future draws for up to a year.

    No, the draw is only open to children who are 54 months of age or younger.

    Yes! The more support this program receives, the more children we can reach. A gift of $60 allows a child to sign up to the program for one full year! Donate today, opens a new window.

    If your child didn’t receive a book, please contact us at RSRead@epl.ca or (780) 442-5329.

    If your child was accepted into the Ready. Set. READ! program, you will have access to a Parent Account on www.imaginationlibrary.com.

    With a Parent Account, you can:

    • See if their child is currently receiving books or not.
    • Edit their child’s mailing address.
    • See the contact information for the local affiliate partner (EPL).
    • See the titles mailed each month.

    Your username will be the same email address as on the application form (if provided). To get a password, you will need to request a new password using the New Password/Forgot Password link on www.imaginationlibrary.com.

    If your child is in EPL's Ready. Set. READ! program, please contact us at RSRead@epl.ca with your new mailing address. If you have a Parent Account, you can update your information online (see instructions below).

    If your new residence is located in Edmonton,, your child will continue to receive free books.

    To update your mailing address via the Parent Account:

    1. Go to imaginationlibrary.com/bos
    2. Enter your username/email and password and click SIGN IN
    3. Click the arrow next to the Child Information
    4. Scroll to the bottom and click on UPDATE ADDRESS
    5. Enter your new address and click Check Availability
    6. Click on CONFIRM ADDRES

    Welcome Baby is EPL’s original book gifting program, which reaches all babies born in Edmonton.

    Ready. Set. READ! allow us to get even more books in children’s hands, starting in neighbourhoods where data indicates families need books the most.

    Operating since 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting organization that puts books into the hands of children across the world. They partner with local communities to provide a hand-selected, age-appropriate, high-quality book each month to registered children until age five.