From Staff Reports

Dolly Parton’s career spanned decades and produced hit records, movies, awards and Dollywood, but the longest lasting impact of all the things she poured herself into may be the books sitting on shelves all across the country; the Imagination Library, founded by Dolly in 1996 for Sevier County children, sent a book to children once per month from birth to age five at no cost to families.
This legacy of literacy was not about giving away books; the books inside of the homes were meant to encourage a love of reading and to help children be ready for school.
“Before he passed away, my daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done,” Dolly said. “I can’t tell you how much that meant to me because I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my daddy. He was the smartest man I have ever known but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams.”
In the early 2000s, she pushed to see the program expanded and in 2004 the Kiwanis Club in Morristown was part of an effort to achieve statewide coverage in Tennessee. They brought area stakeholders together and HC*Excell was appointed to develop and facilitate the county’s program.
“Of course, I have not done this alone,” Dolly said. “The real heroes of our story are the thousands of local organizations who have embraced my dream and made it their own. They raise millions of dollars each year and wake up every day with a passion to make sure their kids have every opportunity to succeed.”
Bill Brittain, chairman of the Morristown-Hamblen Library Board at the time and Hamblen County Mayor for many of the following years, read “The Little Engine That Could” to gathered children and supporters when the county formally kicked off its Imagination Library at the R. Jack Fishman Library at Walters State Community College.
Through the years, Brittain saw the good the program accomplished for area children.
“I think for our families, it’s given them an opportunity to introduce their young children to reading and to books,” he said. “You know, some of these families wouldn’t have the resources to go buy books or to create a personal library of children’s books for their little ones — and the Imagination Library has given families in our community that opportunity.
“The books are high-quality books. They’re all vetted. It’s just been a blessing to Morristown and Hamblen County.”
It’s been just over two decades since every one of Hamblen County’s children started getting their books and the combined efforts of many have made the massive undertaking possible including, though not limited to, HC*Excell, Kiwanis Club of Morristown, Walters State Community College, Hamblen County Commission, Morristown-Hamblen Library, local post offices and dozens of area businesses, industries and organizations.
That local support is desperately needed. A 2018 letter from the Hamblen County Imagination LIbrary described it this way:
“With the financial and philanthropic support of various community partners and data management by Walters State Community College, HC*EXCELL has provided 50% of the cost of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Books for Hamblen County. The other 50% has been provided by the Tennessee Legislature through the state’s management partner, Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF). To date more than 270,000 books have been mailed to Hamblen County children ages birth to 5 years of age.”

The Advisory Council is still working to maintain that support and, with Dolly’s passing, literacy organizers say it’s more important than ever to find champions for the program. Many are stepping up.

Regal Theaters are showing Dolly Parton movies with proceeds going to the Library.

Dolly Parton specialty license plates are being attached to support the program.

Businesses and organizations all over the state and further afield are making plans for September 25 (9/25 or “nine to five” as a reference to the song and movie).

The biggest news for Tennessee children is that state legislators are considering fully funding the program starting in 2027.

Decades after a young Dolly helped open the Morristown Skywalk, many years after “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” and many others were penned by the songwriter and long after opening Dollywood, Parton’s effort to honor her father is still making a grand impact, perhaps for decades to come.