Imagination Library to persist, providing free books to children under five
The Imagination Library, created by Dolly Parton, will continue mailing free books to children from birth to age five, regardless of family income. The program operates in the U.S. and four other countries, and families can check availability by entering their ZIP code on the program's website. Parton's death was announced Tuesday, but the Dollywood Company confirmed the program will keep operating.
The program began in 1995 in Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton's home region, and has since expanded to reach roughly one in six American children under age five. It also operates in four other countries. Books are mailed monthly at no cost to families, with funding covering both the books and postage regardless of household income.
Registration requires checking local availability by ZIP code, as the program relies on partnerships with county and city library systems to distribute books. The Dollywood Company confirmed operations will continue following Parton's death, and has suggested donations to the Imagination Library as a tribute to the singer.
The program's continuation could preserve early literacy access for hundreds of thousands of families who rely on monthly book deliveries, particularly those in lower-income households where reading materials may be scarce. Its sustained operation may also shape how other celebrity-founded charities plan for succession, demonstrating that mission-driven programs can outlive their founders when institutional support remains intact.