Imagination Library will keep sending free books to children

booksAug 26, 20261265,796

A spokesperson for the Dollywood Company confirmed the Dolly Parton Imagination Library will continue mailing free, age-appropriate books to eligible children following Parton’s death. The program, launched in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1995, now serves one in six U.S. children under age five and operates in the United States and four other countries. Families who sign up receive a free, high-quality book by mail each month from birth until the child turns five, with the program covering book and postage costs regardless of income. The Imagination Library works with local partners, so parents must check availability in their ZIP code and may be redirected to a county or city library to complete registration. The Dollywood Company encouraged donations to the Imagination Library as a way to honor Parton, and the organization highlighted Parton’s view that books plant the seeds of children’s dreams. Parton’s creation has delivered hundreds of millions of books worldwide since 1995, and the program pledged to continue that work in her absence.

Bryan 🌐 🇺🇦 Slava Ukraine personal opinions only

@papootx.bsky.social

Letter To Kids From Dolly Parton Imagination Library Dear Imagination Library Graduate. My, how time flies. It seems it was only yesterday when your family and friends read you your first story. You were iust a baby. Now you're five years old and about to go to school. How exciting

76845d ago

Bryan 🌐 🇺🇦 Slava Ukraine personal opinions only27

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.

animalwrites.bsky.social11

Imagine how wonderful you have to be to be so beautiful, so talented and so smart — and when you pass everyone talks about how kind you were.

RoseMarie7

Beautiful ❤️ Such an enormous loss for us. 💫🕊️💖

dr-ann19532

❤️ Watched it last night! ❤️ RIP...

Botox4migraines1

The woman was a saint.

maria5604.bsky.social1

This is absolutley wonderful, where are others who are financially able to directly impact the lives of their fellow humans,..many who have more money that they know what to do with..except spend millions on a wedding. RIP Dolly ..you will be remembered.

Quoting this

Informed15

Our son was a beneficiary of Dolly's graciousness.

Richard Chambers

@newschambers.bsky.social

This was a joy to work on. From Tennessee to Tallaght - looking at the remarkable legacy of Dolly Parton.. 5,000 kids in Tallaght get books sent to them every month because of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library 📚

60444d ago

Joe Noonan5

Support continues to be essential. donate.imaginationlibrary.com

Derek Brauders2

I'd not heard of this here before. Fantastic to hear, though.

Lady D1

Boo, Missouri republicans for defunding the program in their state!

Quoting this

David Nice3

A lovely story from S Dublin giving chapter and verse on how Dolly's Imagination scheme changes lives. Ireland is so good on local libraries; this can only heighten the pride of a literary nation. Do go on to the Imagination website and give something.

Lydia Mulvey2

the place where i grew up (tallaght, not tennessee) 🥹😭💚 the gift of books and reading is one of the most important things you can give to children

Sean Beckner-Carmitchel

@acatwithnews.bsky.social

Looks like even after her death, Dolly Parton’s philanthropy will continue. nationalexaminer.com/dolly-parton...

48244d ago

Quoting this

Aurora2

There's no good excuse for letting yourself be a billionaire

Best for Britain

@bestforbritain.org

What a legacy ♥️ A study found that the Dolly Parton Imagination Library significantly helped prevent early literacy gaps. And children enrolled in the programme read much more often than those not enrolled.

55145d ago

LunaLuvgood2020

@lunaluvgood2020.bsky.social

Here is the link to donate to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library that provides free books for children Dolly did this because her Father could not read or write and she was aware how painful and limiting this was to him and his life She knew there was a life outside poverty from reading books 💕

27845d ago

Jeff O'Malley1

If only it was nationwide ...

AZ_Blue 🚫👑☮️🕊️🇺🇦🚫🧊1

Knowing the story behind this makes it even more special!

Bryan1

So many people are donating that the site is crashing. I will try again tonight.

Marilyn1

Donations must be through the roof today. I've had so much trouble getting this site to work. I'll keep trying, though.

Lady Haha

@lensman23.bsky.social

In Indiana and Missouri, Republicans quietly cut millions of dollars of funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the nonprofit founded by Parton that sends free books to children across the world. The charity, meanwhile, has vowed to carry on. www.rawstory.com/dolly-parton...

32145d ago

RFK Brain Worm Jr.10

It's very dangerous for the GOP if children grow up to be avid readers. They will find out the GOP is a domestic terrorist organization full of lying thieves & pedophiles.

batgirl2005.bsky.social8

It’s because of shit like this from republicans, that proves just how much the GOP DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA INCLUDING CHILDREN! People have got to stop voting for that party. ( Oklahoma is a prime example of the blindness so many voters have. WTF??)

Cam Newton7

Yes, the U.S. government has made significant budget cuts to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, particularly in Missouri, where funding was reduced from about $6 million to $2 million for fiscal year 2027. This has led to a freeze on new enrollments. imaginationlibrarywashington.org

Charlie Morris6

Who benefits from an uneducated, illiterate populace? Republicans, because no one capable of coherent thought would buy what they’re selling. It’s not coincidence, it’s the plan. Everything about Dolly Parton is poison to their politics.

randy1211.bsky.social6

Republicans pushing for illitaracy so they can have a future voting base.

ImJustOneGuy5

Republicans literally stand for everything that Dolly Parton stood up for and fought against...LOVE, childhood literacy, LGBTQIA+ rights, Black civil rights and sooo much more.

Quoting this

MariaC🇦🇷🇮🇹🇺🇦3

Want to honor the exquisite Dolly Parton? Donate to her Imagination Library if you can

Myelita Melton3

Vote them out....every stinkin' one!

Step 🐸2

They hate literacy But they hate women more than anything Indiana is still the worst state in America and this proves it

Jason “Koko” Kokoszka2

What possible motivation could justify this cut? As if we needed one more indication that the GOP is reprehensible.

The Contrarian

@contrariannews.org

332,411,218. "That’s the number of books that her charity, the Imagination Library, has given to children around the world over the last 31 years. In addition to being a brilliant entertainer and an exceptional entrepreneur, Parton was also one of the country’s most generous philanthropists."

38244d ago

suhail2

That is literally teaching folks how to fish isn’t it ?

Centrist Sisyphus1

This week we're all privileged guests of Dollyworld.

Charles Keener

@charleskeener.bsky.social

One of the final videos Dolly Parton posted was a heartfelt thank you to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The pair donated 2 million dollars to her Imagination Library around the time of their wedding.

28744d ago

mtnmantn68.bsky.social4

#DollyParton thanks #TaylorSwift and #TravisKelce for their $2M donation to #ImaginationLibrary www.youtube.com/watch?v=J55n...

HA Grace2

They should endow and carry it on for her

christiancults.bsky.social1

That's nice. Anyone know how much Taylor Swift is worth, monetarily speaking?

Chuck Loder1

TS should learn a lesson from Dolly’s example but I’ll be surprised if she does…

Jim C. Hines

@jimchines.com

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library gifted more than 300 million books to children. In honor of her passing, I'm making my middle grade book TAMORA CARTER: GOBLIN QUEEN free through the end of the week if you use coupon code ThanksDolly at payhip.com/b/JI8X Grab a copy for a kid who might enjoy it.

13245d ago

Carlo Lepage1

What a great tribute! Thank you

Singin Stitchin Sewunicorn1

Thank you, kind sir. Her memory shall always be a blessing.

Nick Geidner

@ngeidner.bsky.social

Dolly’s legacy will be felt in a million ways across East Tennessee, the nation and the world. We are honored to have documented part of that legacy in “The Library That Dolly Built.” We hope you watch the film, learn about the Imagination Library and consider supporting the program.

16645d ago

Nick Geidner99

The documentary is available on Prime, Apple and for free on Kanopy. You can also find on other free streaming platforms, like Plex. tv.apple.com/us/movie/the...

Quoting this

Chris Geidner85

... who also had this to say:

Literal Ham4

you could make 20 of these but there is at least one film that exists already

Argent

@sedahr.bsky.social

Good evening #FiresideFriends, tonight we offer accolades to a woman who was heralded as the "Queen of Country," she founded the Imagination Library offering free books worldwide. Sweet and talented, Dolly Rebecca Parton will be greatly missed. So come share a toast, a song, a dance, in her honor.

The Smoldering Diamond Card Room & Roadhouse, smokehouse barbeque and nightly music inside.

9744d ago

CoachKK21

To the lady who is loved by all youtu.be/lKsQR72HY0s

Jaye19

Good evening, Argent and friends. I’ve been a huge fan of Dolly’s since I went to see her in concert in my early 20s. I made this graphic of her to share tonight.

Freddie_Rose🌹 🇨🇦 ⚕️16

Good evening #FiresideFriends 🎶 An Evening in Honour of Dolly 🎶

lyndapole14

Good evening Arden and the #Firesidefriends. I’m a little late to the party.

FrenchieResistance14

Good evening Fireside Friends! Let’s join together to honor and remember a very special lady! @dollyparton

CoachKK13

Here she is again youtu.be/bflkeWVTNk0

Meidas Charise Lee 💙🌊🌴🥥🫘

@chariselee.bsky.social

“If I'm remembered 100 years from now, I hope it will be not for my music, but for helping children to read." — Dolly Parton How to honor the legacy of Dolly Parton: donate.imaginationlibrary.com

8044d ago

July Again1

Congress is cutting them off so donations can continue her wonderful work.

British Library

@britishlibrary.bsky.social

A sad time for music and book lovers alike. Dolly Parton was not only an extraordinary songwriter and performer, but a passionate champion of reading, putting books into the hands of millions of children through her Imagination Library.

9545d ago