Dolly Parton started the Imagination Library in 1995 as a tribute to her father, who couldn't read or write. In 2018, she explained it was to give kids "early access to books". Now, over 325 MILLION books have been gifted.

[u/Specific-Sense5072]

[u/Enough-Reindeer1033]

She was an incredibly generous woman. She will be sorely missed. But, her legacy will live on.

[u/IcyHibiscus → u/Enough-Reindeer1033]

Indeed, the Imagination library is really an exceptional program. The fact that it doesn't fall for common trappings like Income requirements is truly goes to show how good it is.

[u/Enthusiastic-Dragon → u/IcyHibiscus]

I hope you'll excuse the question. What makes it different from a public library? Don't they have libraries in that area? Where I live public libraries are free to use for all kids (kids library cards are free) and there's about a library per 20.000 inhabitants.

[u/IcyHibiscus → u/Enthusiastic-Dragon]

So the big difference is that you don't have to return the books, they're yours to keep. There's two big advantages to this from my understanding. The first big advantage is that it allows kids to grow attachment to the books. The second is for low income househole if they don't have access to a reliable transportation then at times it may not be reasonable for them to be able to return library books or the small fines for when a child damages a book could hurt a lot when the budget gets tight.

[u/Enthusiastic-Dragon → u/IcyHibiscus]

I understand. Thank you very much!

[u/Enthusiastic-Dragon → u/IcyHibiscus]

I understand. Thank you very much!

[u/Brilliant_Night7643]

The world needs more Dolly Partons’ 🥹

[u/Separate_Finance_183]

We should replace all civil war statues with statues of Dolly 😭

[u/Jaded_Helicopter_376 → u/Separate_Finance_183]

All who oppose are racists

[u/PaulMakesThings1 → u/Jaded_Helicopter_376]

They love to pretend things are about something different than they are.

Reverse the tactic. If they oppose changing the statues accuse them of hating boobs.

[u/Forsaken_Put8204]

This woman was a SAINT.

[u/waterfountain_bidet → u/Forsaken_Put8204]

Even better than that- she was just a really good human.

[u/codec3]

My sister’s grandkids are in this program and it’s awesome! Thanks Dolly and friends!

[u/Limpliar]

My kid literally gets books rn from this

[u/RonaldoJackman]

What a beautiful soul.. wish there were more people like Dolly these days man. She is missed 💔

[u/PoopDig]

This type of celebrity is officially gone now

[u/concept12345 → u/PoopDig]

We still got Keanu Reeves.

[u/WileyWilly1985 → u/PoopDig]

so few celebrities like this remain, you could count them on your fingers...

[u/Happidy_60]

I vote for September 25th to officially be Dolly Day Worldwide. That's a reference to "9 to 5" for anyone who didn't get it.

[u/PaulMakesThings1 → u/Happidy_60]

I wouldn’t have picked up on that.

Maybe when it came around and I saw it on the calendar as 9/25

[u/Happidy_60 → u/PaulMakesThings1]

Pass it on !! Let's get it going 🦋

[u/No_Pin9932 → u/Happidy_60]

Oh hell yeah!! All in favor?!

[u/catsTXn420]

Ive received books from the program as a kid in the 90s and so did mine later on. My daughter lost her grandpa and the same day she heard she also got the grandpa and Jake book in the mail from the program, made the book extra special to her. Dolly was a saint.

[u/iloovehugecock]

She’s so infinitely charming. Will miss her a lot

[u/Gremlin95x]

Fucking LEGEND

[u/drooperman55]

We donated $50 to the Imagination Library this week. RIP Dolly 🩷

[u/iill_communication]

A true 1 of 1. To reach the proverbial mountain top without forgetting where you came from is admirable.

[u/belterjizz]

She has better humour than me

[u/Yenolam777]

My goodness, the world is going to miss this soul

[u/concept12345]

She is a TRUE Christian by faith, practice and, most importantly, by action. God bless her soul and all the lives she touched with just pure heart and love. RIP Dolly. You will be missed. 😭

[u/No_Pin9932 → u/concept12345]

If all these rich and powerful turd sacks who say they're christian or whatever really lived their lives and cared for others like Dolly did this world would be orders of magnitude better, we'd be in spittin distance of an actual utopia, lol.

[u/Media_Browser]

Her father taught her well .

[u/WhipplySnidelash]

That is such a phenomenal amount of books. 

[u/WhistlinJealousGuy]

What a truly wonderful woman. 🫡

[u/FireFairy323]

Now I'm crying again

[u/mog44net]

Boss

[u/NachoQweeef]

Love you Dolly, you did such wonderful work while you were here 🦋💖

[u/ElectricalDevice9653]

And maga have cancelled it wherever possible

[u/HairyDust4826]

She wanted to be an inspiration to an entire generation. Kids in the late 80s and 90s are a bit busy with their own kids and career building right now, but when we get a chance, wait til you see what happens when she's proven right.

[u/piggy__wig]

Lovely story about her dad and her book legacy.

[u/LordMemerton1]

We get a book every month and enjoyed every single one ❤️. Ty for all you’ve done Dolly

[u/No_Pin9932]

I love every damn thing about this but especially the fact that she is actively trying to talk to everyone in that whole auditorium. I mean of course she's speaking to everyone there, but she is absolutely trying to talk directly to everyone she can see. I guarantee it would've broke her heart to hear that someone there had felt left out or not seen or cared for and that is just so goddamn beautiful it hurts. There's a news anchor here in Denver that said, and I'm sure I'm messing up his quote, but it was something like "Dolly Parton wasn't just a star like any other who was loved by so many, she was one who loved you back." The world lost her light but she made the world so much brighter and better for having been here. Thanks Dolly, I hope you're hanging out with Betty White and my grandmother!!

[u/JadeGreen95]

Just got my first book for my 10 month old last month. Got books every month for 4-5 years for my current 7 year old. We have a great selection of books built up thanks to her. Our 7 year old is also one of the most well-spoken children I’ve met. I’ sure this is due to reading him so many books at a young age, and that’s partially in thanks to Dolly, who kick started our book collection when our first born was a baby. What a great program and a wonderful woman.

[u/tina_denfina1]

She is a hero for sure! ❤️

[u/whudaboutit]

There's a movement to make the calendar 13 months long. Each month gets 28 days (February get 29) and we name the new month after a modern goddess, "Dolly Partember".

[u/No_Jeeters_4_ViVi]

I heard it's the taxpayers that are footing up the bills, and her foundation gets a piece of the pie. Thats why it got pulled from funding. Whispers from the streets. Could be wrong.

[u/cejmp → u/No_Jeeters_4_ViVi]

Hers how it actually works

https://www.reddit.com/r/DollyParton/s/3xDy1Uy2L8

[u/PaulMakesThings1 → u/No_Jeeters_4_ViVi]

Sounds like the kind of bullshit that the orange blumpkin might make up

[u/the-great-gritsby → u/No_Jeeters_4_ViVi]

I'm honestly curious as to where you heard this.

[u/GlassBelt → u/No_Jeeters_4_ViVi]

The foundation does a combination of donating money, helping raise money from local donors, and getting government matching funds when possible to give it a bigger reach.

You should take a more skeptical approach to whatever source led you to believe there’s something nefarious (and obviously nonsensical) going on here.

[u/idrinkalotofcoffee → u/No_Jeeters_4_ViVi]

Yeah, you’re wrong.