Statement from Delaware Libraries on the Passing of Literacy Legend, Dolly Parton

DOVER, Del. - The Delaware Libraries today released a statement on the passing of Dolly Parton:

Delaware Libraries are devastated to hear of Dolly Parton's passing.

Dolly was a country legend, movie star, style icon, ambassador of humanity, but we'll also remember her as a literacy legend.

Inspired by her father's personal literacy struggles, Dolly led an initiative to inspire a love of reading in every child.

Today, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is the world's preeminent early childhood book-gifting program. In partnership with local affiliate partners, the program mails high quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five - at no cost to families.

Her generosity has benefitted over 50,000 Delaware children and families, encouraging the reading and library habit. That number grows every day.

The Delaware Libraries were honored to be a part of the Imagination Library state pilot program. It was an unbelievable honor to host Dolly at the historic Wilmington Public Library to celebrate the milestone of taking the program statewide.

If you want to know her impact - just ask the new parents who leave a Delaware hospital registered for the program, and with their first Imagination Library book, which is also Dolly's favorite: The Little Engine That Could. Listen to the children who thank "Ms. Dolly" after they read one of their Imagination Library books and saw her photo on the back cover. Watch how quickly children run to their mailboxes to grab their new stories, smiling at their names written in the address line. Hear about story times at home, libraries, and schools where families foster connection and memories. And check-in with the early education professionals who see stronger conversations, socialization, and a love of reading in their students who are enrolled in the program.

Thank you, Dolly, for what you've done for Delaware and for all our children.

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Register for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Delaware

For more information about the Imagination Library, visit the Dollywood Foundation website.

View the 2022 statewide celebration on YouTube.

Delaware announced an option for bilingual books in 2024.