She founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to provide children with free books throughout early childhood. Through a series of expanding partnerships, it has delivered free books to tens of millions of children across the United States and in four other countries, and is currently sending out about 3 million books every month, including bilingual and Braille books.
According to its website, more than 332 million total books have been gifted through Dolly's initiative.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams,” Parton once said. “They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”
Her work to instill a love of reading in children from a very young age has planted tens of millions of such seeds, which will grow tall and strong for decades to come.
In an article published today by Good Housekeeping, Sarah Vincent notes: "The Imagination Library has been so impactful that we recognized it with the Good Housekeeping Seal in 2001. It marked the first and only time it had ever been awarded to a person, and we can’t think of a better icon to have that distinction."
Children age out of the Imagination Library program when they turn 5. They receive a letter from Parton that states, in part:
"This may be your last book from my Imagination Library but you have to promise me you will keep on reading. If you go to your local public library you will find a great number of books just for kids your age. Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places. ... There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go. ... You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be. You are terrific."
“Of all the things I’ve done in my life, this is one of the most precious things,” Parton says in the 2020 documentary The Library That Dolly Built (which is narrated by actress and education advocate Danica McKellar). “If you’re lucky and fortunate enough to be in a position to help, you should help.”
A lot of people are helping today, in Dolly Parton's memory, by donating to or advocating for the Imagination Library. There are other ways to help children's literacy, of course. Place books for kids into Little Free Libraries, for example. I'm already planning to have a Dolly Parton-themed Halloween this year, handing out books to the trick-or-treaters when they stop by. Dollyween has a nice ring to it.
So long, Dolly. And thanks for all the books.
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