When people think of Dolly Parton, they may first think of her music, but her legacy extends far beyond the stage. Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, she created a simple yet powerful way to help children develop a love of reading: a free, age-appropriate book mailed to their home every month from birth through age five.
In 2021, the Carbon County Community Foundation brought the program to our community through the support of our local donors and a partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network – Carbon Campus and the Dollywood Foundation.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and this partnership, children who reside in Carbon County can register to receive a free book every month at no cost to their families. As of August 2026, 1,380 Carbon County children receive a free book every month through Imagination Library Carbon County. The Dollywood Foundation oversees the Imagination Library and provides the books sent to enrolled children.
For each child, the journey begins with The Little Engine That Could. Every month, a new book arrives in the mail, with stories and characters that grow along with the child. Families can also choose bilingual English-Spanish books, and children receive a special graduation book when they turn five and age out of the program.
The impact is perhaps best captured by the families who receive those books. One Carbon County parent shared, “We love this program! It’s so fun to receive a surprise in the mail on a monthly basis. My little guy even got introduced to some of his favorite book series, like Llama Llama, thanks to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.”
Another parent shared that her two children have both enjoyed their monthly books and said they are “convinced her name is actually Dolly Partner because she’s their partner in reading.”
“Dolly understood the power of a book to open a child’s imagination and help them see what is possible,” said Sharon Alexander, President & CEO of the Carbon County Community Foundation. “We are honored to help bring that vision to Carbon County, and we are incredibly grateful to the donors and partners who make this program possible. We could not offer Imagination Library Carbon County without the generosity of our supporters and the partnership of St. Luke’s. Every month, when another book arrives at a child’s home, we are reminded that Dolly’s legacy is still growing—and that our community has a role to play in carrying it forward.”
As we remember Dolly and celebrate the remarkable life she lived, we are grateful to be part of the legacy she created. Her vision continues in Carbon County—one child, one book and one month at a time.
THANK YOU!
Complete your donation to the Imagination Library Carbon County Fund using the form below. For other giving options, please contact the Carbon County Community Foundation at 1-855-545-1311 or info@cccfoundpa.org.