Tributes to Dolly Parton following her passing highlight her incredible generosity and kindness, including the “Imagination Library” program she founded in 1995. The “Imagination Library” provides free books every month to children up to the age of five. Globally, the program has gifted more than 300,000,000 books to children, including in Canada.
London’s affiliate of the “Dolly Parton Imagination Library”, which opened a fund with London Community Foundation in 2022, is carrying on Dolly’s legacy – making the love of reading accessible to all children.
Retired teacher and passionate advocate for early reading, Betsy Reilly, co-founded the London affiliate with Susan Carlyle. “Research on the program published in 2026 confirmed that children who have books in the home are read to more often, are more engaged with reading and do better in school. Dolly’s commitment to ensuring all young children have books to read at home really inspired me to bring the program to London. Dolly has ensured through her Dollywood Foundation that the Imagination Library will continue for generations of young children to come,” says Betsy.
More than 1,600 children are registered through London’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library, with 243 who already graduated on their fifth birthday, thanks to strong community partnerships and generous Londoners who contribute. London children have received over 27,000 books over the years. Thank you, Dolly, and thank you, London.
