Dolly Parton's Imagination Library continues global literacy mission

Following the death of music icon Dolly Parton on August 25, 2026, her global literacy initiative, the Imagination Library, continues to impact children worldwide. Founded in 1995, the program provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth until age five.

In Canada, the Greater Victoria branch has distributed over 2,000 books to local families. In the United States, the program has reached significant milestones, including the delivery of one million books in West Alabama through a partnership with the United Way. In Washington, D.C., the initiative has reached over 100,000 children in collaboration with the D.C. Public Library. Additionally, the program has delivered over 3,500 books to more than 1,000 children on the Isle of Man.

To date, the Imagination Library has distributed more than 300 million free books globally, operating across five countries and fostering early childhood literacy through personalized monthly deliveries.