CASPER, WY — The Natrona County Public Library marked the start of the inaugural Dolly Day on Friday with a Dolly‑themed storytime that highlighted the late country‑music icon’s dedication to early literacy. Children gathered to hear books about Dolly Parton’s life and to enjoy selections from the Imagination Library, the free book‑by‑mail program she founded.
“Today is a celebration of our dearest Dolly,” said Kaytlen Kidney, the Natrona County Imagination Library coordinator. “She was a big advocate for early literacy and getting children books as soon as possible, whenever possible.” The event also featured dancing to Parton’s biggest hits and video messages recorded by the singer herself.
Imagination Library impact in Natrona County
Library marketing and public‑relations manager Kasen Urhammer noted that the local Imagination Library initiative has distributed nearly 100,000 books across the county since its launch. “Dolly Parton means so much to librarians the world over because of what she did for literacy,” Urhammer said. “She has helped so many communities throughout the world, including Natrona County. She’s done so much work for so many different literacy organizations and boosting educational efforts across the country that it’s really impossible to get away from that influence.”
Citywide Dolly Day activities
The storytime served as the launchpad for a broader Dolly Day celebration organized by local resident Buffie LaRocca. The program includes a downtown passport that encourages shoppers to visit roughly 20 participating businesses, each offering special deals or menu items. Additional festivities feature a Dolly Parton costume contest, karaoke sing‑alongs, and a raffle benefiting the Casper Youth Hub.
“For me, Dolly has been an icon and someone to look up to as a young girl,” LaRocca said. “Not just because she’s stunning, but because she had so many facets to her. Not only is she an amazing musician, but an amazing person, a life partner to her husband and a philanthropist to so many things.”
Ongoing library programs for children and teens
The library’s regular early‑childhood programming includes daily storytimes at 10 a.m. with themed sessions for different age groups. Tuesdays feature “Tiny Tots” for children under two, Wednesdays host “Reads and Rhymes,” and Thursdays offer “Story Time Dance Parties” that emphasize movement and music.
Monthly specialty events include “Paws to Read,” where children read alongside certified therapy dogs, and “Messy Story Time,” which provides hands‑on sensory projects. For older youth, the library runs after‑school STEM activities, art projects, cooking clubs, and book clubs for fourth through sixth graders on Monday afternoons, as well as programs for elementary students and homeschool families.
Teen services specialists also host bi‑monthly book clubs for middle‑ and high‑school students and coordinate outreach programs inside local schools. Looking ahead, Urhammer said the library is preparing a Halloween‑themed storytime for the downtown trick‑or‑treat celebration on Oct. 31.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
