Dolly Parton said she wanted to be remembered "not for looks but for books."
The beloved country singer died Aug. 25 at 80 after privately battling cancer. While the "Jolene" singer is best known for chart-topping hits, her signature bedazzled style and adventure park Dollywood, she was also a passionate advocate for literature. She once said she'd prefer "book lady" to "Queen of Country Music."
Her bookish philanthropy will be felt for generations. One in six U.S. children under 5 receives free books from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the fund that has gifted more than 332,000,000 books across the world. In a statement announcing Parton's death, her family asked for donations to her Imagination Library in lieu of flowers.
What is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library?
Imagination Library
was one of Parton's proudest philanthropic ventures, realizing her dream that “all children should grow up in a home full of books.” The fund provides monthly books to children from birth to age 5.
Participating families receive one book a month per registered child at no cost. Local businesses, school districts, organizations and individuals help promote the program and enroll eligible children. Donations are accepted on the organization's website.
Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995 as an ode to her father, who was unable to read. Before he died, he told Parton it was “probably the most important thing (she) had ever done.” Initially, the fund distributed books to children in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she grew up. It quickly expanded internationally. By 2003, Imagination Library had sent its millionth book.
Upon "graduating" from the Imagination Library, 5-year-old readers get a letter from Parton, who encourages them to take advantage of their school library and asks them to keep reading.
"Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places," she wrote in the letter, which is now going viral on social media.
How to sign up for Imagination Library
Children from birth to age 5 are eligible to receive books from the Imagination Library. To sign up, check for an available program in your area on the Imagination Library website. Your child will receive one age-appropriate book each month until they turn 5. Alternatively, use the website's map feature to find a program near you.
If there isn't an Imagination Library near you, sign up for a "New Program Alert," which allows funders to see how many families are interested in starting a program.
Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find heron Instagram, subscribe to our weeklyBooks newsletter or tell her what you’re reading atcmulroy@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dolly Parton gifted millions of books to kids. How to sign up for Imagination Library.
