Dolly Parton family asks donations to Imagination Library in lieu of flowers

booksAug 26, 2026854,159

Dolly Parton’s family asked mourners to donate to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in lieu of flowers, directing people to the charity’s website. The Imagination Library marked 20 years in Canada on June 26 and has mailed more than 5 million books to Canadian children since launching there in 2006, delivering about 60,000 books to mailboxes each month through more than 400 local program partners. The program sends one free, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth to age five and has expanded its Canadian collection to highlight Indigenous voices and diverse stories. Independent research cited by the program found children enrolled were 13 times more likely to be read to four or more days a week, 11 times more likely to initiate shared reading, and seven times more likely to show expressive vocabulary gains compared with children not enrolled. One Big Celebration of Reading on June 26 brought read-aloud events and family literacy activities to communities across Canada. The program has also faced recent funding challenges, with a report that one US state’s funding cut caused a $4 million loss for the Imagination Library.

HANGMAN PAGE

@hangmanpage.bsky.social

there’s nothin im gonna be able to say about Dolly Parton that you don’t already know. she is an inspiration. my kids have loved getting books in the mail from Dolly. you can donate to her imagination library here: donate.imaginationlibrary.com

89945d ago

Farad Thee Sexy Stallion12

We need a ten bell salute for Dolly on Dynamite.

Claire5

I too have one question for god: why take Dolly, who was surely making a difference in a good way, and bringing joy to millions, and not ****face in the White House, who is also making a difference, but not in a good way? 🙄

hank-kingsley.bsky.social2

Already on it Hangman 🫡 Dolly was an angel. Maybe you and the boys could come out to one of her songs at Wembley?

Stalin Kay2

Her legacy shows what influence can become when it turns into access: music that lifts people, plus books reaching children who might otherwise miss them.

ayojalapeno.bsky.social1

There's a lot of noise here, but this actually matters. This hit close to home: someone I care about deeply, a software engineer, is battling a spinal tumor and facing paralysis. If you have a minute, the newest post on my page shares his story. 🙏

Trina1341

She will be missed 😭❤️

Bela Lugosi's Dad 🏳️‍⚧️ 🇵🇸

@belalugosisdad.bsky.social

Incidentally, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library's book list doesn't include any of JKR's children's fiction.

54345d ago

Paul Duane 🥔8

this is so, so satisfying to hear

BornUnderPunches - low art enthusiast6

It's meant for pre-schoolers, so I wouldn't put too much weight on it tbh

Realdeal643

Because it is for kids 0 to 5. JK Rowlings proves who she is to the core. ick

Read&Resist3

I get where you’re going but Imagination Library is for preschoolers and the books are meant to be held by little kiddo hands, so a big Harry Potter JKR 📕 wouldn’t be something they’d mail for more obvious reasons than postage.

Plague2

This is true, but they also only serve children up to age 5 till they go to school.

ohgodwhatdoiput2

I was wondering! Glad to hear it.

Quoting this

Bela Lugosi's Dad 🏳️‍⚧️ 🇵🇸12

Lots of people pointing out that IL is meant for pre-schoolers, which is true, but JKR does have two books (arguably three or four) that woukd be fine for 5yos, especially if read with parents. They're clearly not up to scratch.

Worry Lines

@worry--lines.bsky.social

50% of all sales of this print in my store today will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. 📚 #comicsky #webcomic #dollyparton

45145d ago

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan

@london.gov.uk

Dolly Parton's legacy extends beyond her extraordinary music. She touched countless lives through her generosity, including through her Imagination Library in London, bringing the joy of reading to children across the capital. My thoughts are with her loved ones and fans around the world.

38645d ago

ishmael-sheo.bsky.social

@ishmael-sheo.bsky.social

This is the letter they get from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library when they grow out of the program. Through Dolly's initiative, each child is mailed free books from birth until they start school. RIP Dolly Parton #ImaginationLibrary

23945d ago

Quoting this

LitaBelle❤️♐️🇲🇦🇯🇲🍑2

This is so cool. I tried to sign up but they only mailed to certain communities. Dolly was a class act. She is sorely missed.

Barnaby Edwards

@barnabyedwards.bsky.social

One of my favourite Dolly Parton stories. Chatting to one of her employees one day, she asked why he’d decided to work at Dollywood. To fund his education, he said. She immediately paid 100% of his college fees & then offered the same deal to all 11,000 employees. www.upworthy.com/dollywood-co...

17445d ago

Quoting this

Pete Fraser35

Imagine if more wealthy people understood that they could help people and STILL be wealthy. These people don’t experience shame, but her example *should* shame them. People far richer than she was.

Joumana Medlej14

There's no praise I can come up with that would be worthy. It's so easy to make a huge difference when you have huge wealth, and yet, mind-bogglingly, she was one of a kind.

Alex Selby-Boothroyd4

You hear that, Michael Scott?? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott%2...

Stewart Horn he/they2

She's one of the heroes of the modern world. Most rich people use their money to get richer. She used it to help people. That makes her a beautiful outlier.

Dr. Vaughn Joy

@gvaughnjoy.bsky.social

How dare you smear Dolly Parton as "neutral in the culture wars"? There's nothing neutral about her Imagination Library, her support for LGBTQ+ people, her fierce devotion to Black communities in Nashville, her vaccine funding, her nondiscriminatory love for all, &&&. She just refused their games.

14045d ago

Nadia Whittome MP

@nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social

Rest in peace Dolly Parton, a country legend who stood up for working class people and was proudly feminist, anti-racist and pro LGBTQ+. An advocate for children’s literacy, she launched the Dolly Parton Imagination Library – a book gifting scheme for children under the age of five. [1/2]

A photograph of Dolly Parton holding an open book with many more books underneath her stacked on a table.

12145d ago

Nadia Whittome MP41

The Nottingham Imagination Library was launched in 2009 and now has nearly 5,400 children across our city registered to have a book delivered to their door every month. Dolly leaves behind an incredible legacy. May her memory motivate us to continue fighting for a better world. [2/2]

Naolin Davis

@naolindavis.art

There's something wrong with the universe when one of the most genuine, altruistic, inspirational and talented people passes away because of a horrible disease, while certain cruel people continue living freely, untouched by pain and corruption they cause in the world. Rest in peace, Dolly Parton.

10945d ago

Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)

@drsurekhadavies.bsky.social

"“Everywhere I go, the kids call me ‘the book lady.’” Dolly Parton's Imagination Library sent 300 MILLION free books out to kids: they receive one book a month from birth to the age of five. Now THAT is a meaningful legacy.

7445d ago

Big Green Books

@biggreenbooks.bsky.social

It's Wednesday! It's "Buy A Stranger a Book" day! Today, to celebrate & honour Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, i'll give out 5 books FOR FREE. If there's a book you want let me know. If YOU want to #buyastrangerabook too, get in touch! www.biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi... UK only.

4345d ago

SomersetWhovian 💙 🇺🇦3

Hi Simon. Count me in for £20 for books for children in memory of Dolly, on this #BuyAStrangerABook day. On top of that, if you can get hold of @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social's My Own Way, I'll offer a copy of that - it was one of Dolly's books for her Imagination Library. www.quarto.com/books/978071...

1,122 Bastards1

morning Simon - please sign me up to buy a copy of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Littl... - a friend gave it to me a few years ago. by turns uplifting and absolutely devastating

Massimo (mirror)

@rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social

Dolly Parton started the Imagination Library in 1995 as a tribute to her father, who couldn't read or write. In 2018, she explained it was to give kids "early access to books". Now, over 325 million books have been gifted. Original post

6445d ago

NBC4 Washington

@nbcwashington.com

For decades, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been putting free books into the hands of children nationwide, including in the D.C. area. News4 looks at Parton’s lasting legacy of literacy.

6745d ago