The Imagination Library of Colorado joins millions of people around the world in mourning the passing of Dolly Parton — an extraordinary artist, philanthropist, entrepreneur and champion for children whose generosity and vision changed countless lives.
For those of us privileged to be part of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, her passing is deeply personal. Parton was much more than the famous name associated with this program. The Imagination Library grew directly from her belief in the potential of every child and her conviction that circumstances should never determine whether a child has the opportunity to learn, dream, and succeed.
"Dolly Parton accomplished more in one lifetime than most of us could imagine — as an artist, songwriter, entertainer, businesswoman and humanitarian. But I believe the Imagination Library may ultimately stand among her greatest achievements," said Jack Tate, CEO of the Imagination Library of Colorado. "There are children learning to love books today because of an idea Dolly had more than 30 years ago. There will be children who have not even been born yet whose first books will arrive in their mailbox because of her. That is an extraordinary legacy."
Parton created the Imagination Library in 1995 in her home community of Sevier County, Tenn., inspired in large part by her father, Robert Lee Parton, who was unable to read or write. Her idea was simple: Every young child should have books of their own, regardless of their family's income.
That idea became a worldwide movement.
Today, Parton's Imagination Library mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children from birth until their 5th birthday. The program has expanded from one Tennessee county to communities across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland, placing hundreds of millions of books into the hands and homes of children.
Parton's Legacy in Colorado
Colorado embraced Parton's vision and made it its own.
The Imagination Library of Colorado was established as a statewide nonprofit partnership to make Dolly Parton's Imagination Library available to children throughout the state. The program brings together the Imagination Library of Colorado, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, local nonprofit partners, generous donors and affiliate communities to ensure books remain available to families at no cost.
Today, more than 92,000 Colorado children receive an Imagination Library book in the mail each month. Nearly 30 percent of Colorado children under age 5 participate in the program, and more than 3.4 million books have been mailed to Colorado children since 2021.
Fifty-nine local nonprofit partners across Colorado help make that possible by raising funds, enrolling local children and championing early childhood literacy amongst their communities.
Parton's belief that access to books would change the trajectory of a child's life is being demonstrated directly through the positive effects the program has had on Colorado youth. A statewide evaluation found that children who participated in the Imagination Library entered kindergarten with stronger early literacy skills and were significantly less likely to begin school well below literacy benchmarks.
"Dolly gave us much more than a program — she gave communities a way to come together around children," Tate said. "Here in Colorado, thousands of donors, volunteers, local nonprofits and public partners have taken her vision and built something that now reaches families in every part of our state."
The books will keep coming
Parton's passing does not mark the end of the Imagination Library. The strength and permanence of the program she built are themselves representative of the perpetuity of her legacy.
The Imagination Library of Colorado will continue its work with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and local partners across the state. Children will continue enrolling. Books will continue arriving in mailboxes. Families will continue reading together.
"Parents tell us about the excitement their children feel when they discover a book in the mailbox with their own name on it," Tate said. "That experience is happening in homes all across Colorado because Dolly believed books could open doors for children. The best tribute we can give her is to make sure those books keep coming."
Generations from now, people will still sing Parton's songs and remember the remarkable life she lived. But there will also be generations of children who became readers because a book showed up at their home every month.
Her voice will be missed. Her generosity will be remembered. And her Imagination Library will continue opening the door to a lifetime of reading and possibility for children in Colorado and around the world.
About the Imagination Library of Colorado
The Imagination Library of Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and statewide partner of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Working with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and local nonprofit partners throughout Colorado, the organization provides children from birth to age 5 with a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book mailed directly to their home each month. The program's mission is to increase youth literacy and rates of kindergarten readiness by ensuring equitable access to books for all Colorado children.
For more information about the Imagination Library of Colorado, including enrolling a child or helping to support our program, visit our website at https://www.imaginationlibrarycolorado.org.
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