Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library now available to Delaware children

By Joseph Edelen
Posted 5/6/22

WILMINGTON — Singer-songwriter and recent honoree of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Dolly Parton paid a visit to the Wilmington Public Library on Thursday to celebrate the state’s new …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already a member? Log in to continue.   Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library now available to Delaware children

Posted

WILMINGTON — Singer-songwriter and recent honoree of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Dolly Parton paid a visit to the Wilmington Public Library on Thursday to celebrate the state’s new partnership with her Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program which donates a free book every month to any child from birth up to 5 years of age, regardless of their family’s income. The statewide launch of the Imagination Library provides access to the program for children in Delaware in partnership with the state’s library system.

The celebration was attended by Gov. John Carney, Delaware’s First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney and various state legislators. Ms. Carney, who will serve as the honorary chair of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Delaware, thanked State Librarian Annie Norman, Secretary of State Jeff Bullock and the state’s birth hospitals, who are now registering every newborn Delawarean for the program before they leave the hospital.

Gov. Carney said the statewide celebration with Ms. Parton was an honor and added that it was one of the top three coolest events in his entire career in public service.

“It’s not really hard work to unite people behind an effort and an idea as simple and as essential as this one,” Gov. Carney said.

“The mission is pretty easy to sell, all the more because, as far as I can tell, there is no one in the state of Delaware that doesn’t love Dolly Parton.”

Ms. Parton launched the program in 1995 in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee, and it quickly began spreading nationwide. She said the idea for the program was inspired by her father, Lee Parton, who did not finish school, nor know how to read or write. Ms. Parton said her father’s insecurity about his illiteracy bothered her, and that sparked her idea to create a program that could provide children with the means to learn how to read.

“It’s a great honor and we are so excited that we are going statewide with our Imagination Library,” Ms. Parton said.

“I always say I’ve dreamed myself into a corner, but my dreams came true, so I’ve got to be responsible.”

Ms. Parton said bringing the Imagination Library to Delaware was especially important and getting the program to reach as many children as possible is the top priority, regardless of the state.

The program sends more than 1 million books to children per month and, according to Ms. Parton, the Imagination Library has sent out a total of over 185 million books, a number she hopes will reach 200 million by early 2023.

“I had no idea that we would be all over the world now, we’re all over the United States and I thank Delaware so much for taking this statewide. We’re really doing well getting it done in other states, and it’s an honor for you to take it on with us,” Ms. Parton said.

As a gift to the Wilmington Public Library, Ms. Parton donated a signed, large edition of her 1996 children’s book “Coat of Many Colors,” which will be available to children through the Imagination Library.

Gov. Carney and the First Lady reciprocated the gesture, offering their own gift basket to Ms. Parton for the partnership. The gift basket included a plush toy of a baby blue hen, the mascot for the state’s “My First Library Card” program which encourages children from birth to age 5 to read. The basket also included a box of saltwater taffy from Rehoboth Beach’s famous Dolle’s Candyland, which Gov. Carney suggested should be called “Dolly’s” for the day.

At the governor’s request, Ms. Parton then performed her 1971 hit “Coat of Many Colors.” Like the book, it was inspired by a coat made of patches and rags that her mother had stitched for her as a child.

At the conclusion of the song, Ms. Parton said that when she began the Imagination Library, she knew there had to be a theme song. She said she wanted it to have the same message as “The Little Engine That Could,” which was the first book available through the Imagination Library in 1995. Ms. Parton said she wanted to inspire those who heard the song to try to reach their dreams and have faith, so she wrote what eventually became her 2014 song “Try.” Ms. Parton capped off the celebration by playing the song, followed by a performance by the Wilmington Children’s Chorus.

Delaware families can register their children for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at delawarelibraries.org/imagination.

Members and subscribers make this story possible.
You can help support non-partisan, community journalism.

x
X