A program that puts books into the hands of young readers, could soon expand its reach in Kentucky.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program provides free books monthly to children from birth to age five.

A legislative panel voted in favor of a measure today that directs the Department for Libraries and Archives and the State Health Cabinet to explore ways to increase enrollment in the program.

The sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 54, Minority Whip Senator Kasey Chambers Armstrong, says the collaboration will give Kentucky's more vulnerable children access to the program.

Imagination library does amazing work trying to reach vulnerable families.

They work with family resource centers, churches, hospitals and public libraries throughout the Commonwealth.

Yet the cabinet is uniquely situated to help them reach these children, these vulnerable families, earlier and easier.

For example, the cabinet could automatically enroll children in foster care.

We think there are about 2000 eligible children in foster care that are not currently enrolled, and the cabinet could do that in a way that protects confidentiality while making sure that children are enrolled in that program.

They could collaborate on ways to increase enrollment through hands, or put information about Imagination Library and birth certificate forms, and high poverty zip codes.

There are more ideas and the opportunities are really endless, and they're exciting.

The resolution passed the Senate earlier this month.

It now moves to the full House for a vote by the entire membership.

There.