08/26/2026
HSLC joins libraries, educators, and communities around the world in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton.
While she will always be remembered for her extraordinary career in music and entertainment, her legacy as a champion of literacy may be among her most enduring.
In 1995, Dolly founded the Imagination Library, inspired by her father’s inability to read and write. What began as a local effort grew into a global movement, putting more than 330 million books into the hands of children and inspiring generations of young readers.
Her belief in the power of books, reading, and libraries resonated deeply with those of us who work to connect people with information and opportunity. Dolly understood that giving a child a book was about giving them something much greater: a chance to dream, to learn, and to imagine what might be possible.
She was a woman to be admired—not only for her remarkable talent, but for the way she used her success to lift others up.
We are grateful for the seeds she planted and for the countless lives that will continue to be changed by them.
Thank you, Dolly. Your legacy will live on in every child who opens a book. ❤️📚
