Dallas – After the passing of beloved country‑music icon Dolly Parton, Texas leaders moved quickly to honor her legacy of literacy. The state Legislature appropriated $4 million for fiscal year 2026 to fund Community Literacy Support Grants, administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. These grants help public libraries partner with nonprofit groups to enroll children in the Imagination Library, the free‑book‑mailing program founded by Parton in 1995.
State funding expands a proven program
The Imagination Library began in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton grew up as one of twelve children. Inspired by her father, who could not read or write, she mailed a free, age‑appropriate book each month to every enrolled child. The program now reaches five countries and delivers more than three million books each month to children from birth to age five, without requiring families to prove financial need.
In Texas, more than 80 nonprofit organizations were already enrolling children in the program as of August 2025. The new grant initiative builds on an invitation‑only pilot launched in October 2025, which paired roughly seven library‑nonprofit partnerships with the Imagination Library as the pilot’s book‑delivery service. Participating children receive a book at home each month, while nonprofit partners handle enrollment and delivery.
Local impact and community involvement
Funding for the grants is shared between the Dollywood Foundation and local community partners, which may include libraries, school districts, civic groups, businesses, and other nonprofits. Families incur no cost for the books or postage, and the first book sent to new participants in the United States is traditionally The Little Engine That Could. Subsequent selections are chosen to promote early literacy, vocabulary growth, and interaction between children and caregivers.
According to the program’s published milestones, about one in seven children under five in the United States received an Imagination Library book each month in 2024. Texas families can check the organization’s online tool to see if enrollment is available in their community.
National tribute
In recognition of Parton’s contributions, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation ordering American flags to be lowered to half‑staff at the White House, federal buildings, military installations, naval vessels, and U.S. facilities overseas through September 1. The order, published in the Federal Register, reflects the nation’s respect for the singer‑songwriter’s decades‑long commitment to children’s literacy.
Parton died peacefully in Nashville on August 25, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer. Her family requested donations to the Imagination Library in lieu of flowers and announced a private service for immediate relatives.
Continuing the mission
With state support and ongoing private contributions, the Imagination Library is poised to reach even more Texas children in the coming years. The partnership between the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, local nonprofits, and the Dollywood Foundation underscores a shared belief that reading together strengthens families, builds character, and honors the Christian values of nurturing the next generation.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
