Not just the “Queen of Country”

By the time she died on Aug. 25, Dolly Parton long cemented herself in history as the “Queen of Country.”

But she may have also reimagined a future for children’s literacy. 

Parton’s Imagination Library ships free books monthly to children from birth to age five regardless of their family’s income throughout the U.S. and internationally, including Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Founded in 1995 that first served children in Parton’s home county — Sevier County, Tennessee —  the library is a homage to her father who was unable to read or write. 

The Dollywood Foundation – Parton’s nonprofit dedicated to supporting educational opportunities for children — covers the overhead expenses, while local businesses and organizations pay the $2.60 monthly fee per child to cover their wholesale book and mailing fees.

The program's books are picked out by the Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee — a panel of early childhood literary experts — every year and cover a variety of topics including colors, counting, overcoming adversity and emotions. The organization also offers bilingual English and Spanish books for Hispanic children.

Deborah Chiarella —  UB associate librarian and liaison to the departments of music, theatre and dance — has two grandchildren registered in the program. They were registered at birth and are always to read their books “over and over again,” she said.

Since then, Chiarella has learned more about the library’s history, funding and the impact it had on the approximately three million children registered. 

Parton was an honorable and interesting figure who did a lot for early childhood literacy, Chiarella said. 

Stephanie Vander Wel, associate professor in the department of music, reflected fondly on her experience reading with her son over 20 years ago — when technology was much less common for young children. 

In the wake of the rapid growth of young children using technology, Vander Wel said that despite the growth, she still believes reading and the Imagination Library will continue to have a “strong impact on children.”

While the library works to bring literacy to children at all income levels, its mission may dim just slightly in the face of recent defunding of the nonprofits that support it from state funding cuts. For example, Indiana and Maine had cut state funding for the library entirely, while public outcry forced Kentucky to roll back a budget cut that would have closed the program in about half its poorest counties.

“Accessibility has closed the gap between families who can or cannot afford books,” said Chiarella.

When discussing Parton’s legacy, Vander Wel said that although Parton worked immensely hard to build the career she had in the music world, her father, Lee, always said that Parton’s “imagination library was her greatest gift.”

Kelly McKiernan is the assistant arts desk editor and can be reached at kelly.mckiernan@ubspectrum.com.