The Bellingham Public Library joined institutions and communities across the country Wednesday in mourning the death of Dolly Parton, describing her not only as a beloved musician but as a "true titan of children's literacy" whose work touched generations of young readers and the institutions that serve them.
For the library community, Parton's legacy extends far beyond country music. Her Imagination Library program, which has mailed free books to children from birth through age five since 1995, became one of the most impactful early literacy initiatives in American history. The program has received multiple Library of Congress Literacy Awards, and in 2018 Parton herself came to the Library of Congress to donate the program's 100 millionth book to the collection. During that visit, she hosted story time in the Library's Great Hall, reading to children in a moment the Bellingham Public Library described as one it will not forget.
Parton's Connection to Local Literacy Programs
The Imagination Library's reach extends directly into Washington state. The program sends free, age-appropriate books monthly to enrolled children, and Washington has been one of the states where the program has expanded significantly in recent years. Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal met Parton in 2023 after the Imagination Library expanded statewide. Reykdal is now urging Governor Bob Ferguson and state lawmakers to restore funding for the Imagination Library of Washington, which was left out of the state's 2025-27 operating budget. Without that funding, the monthly book mailings that families in Whatcom County and across the state rely on are at risk of interruption.
The Whatcom Humane Society Thrift Shop is honoring Parton's memory in a tangible way. Through Saturday, August 29, the shop is offering one free book per person from its wide selection, available for all ages. The thrift shop is located in the Park Manor Shopping Center on Birchwood Avenue in Bellingham and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A Legacy Built Book by Book
The Imagination Library began in Parton's home county in Tennessee as a way to combat low literacy rates in rural communities. It grew into a global program now operating in multiple countries, and its model of sending books directly to children's homes regardless of family income became a template for literacy advocates worldwide. The program's design is deliberately simple: every enrolled child receives a new book each month, chosen by age appropriateness, until they start kindergarten. Research on the program has consistently shown improvements in school readiness among participating children.
Parton received the Library of Congress's Living Legend award for her literacy philanthropy and was recognized by the American Library Association for her contributions to reading culture. She was famously reluctant to accept the Country Music Hall of Fame's medallion initially, saying she didn't feel she'd earned it, before eventually accepting the honor. Her public persona, built on warmth and self-deprecating humor, masked a decades-long commitment to making books and reading accessible to people who might not otherwise have them.
The Library of Congress documented Parton's 2018 visit when she donated the Imagination Library's 100 millionth book, including video of her story time reading in the Great Hall. The Bellingham Public Library shared that video Wednesday as part of its tribute.
For families in Whatcom County who want their children enrolled in the Imagination Library while the program continues, information on local enrollment and the push to restore state funding is available through the Bellingham Public Library. The library system operates branches in the Barkley neighborhood and downtown Bellingham, and its staff have been among the local voices calling for continuation of the literacy programs Parton built.
For readers who want to engage with the library's own summer programming before it closes, the Summer Reading program ends August 31. Activity cards can be turned in at any Bellingham Public Library location through closing on that date. It is a small but fitting way to honor what Parton spent decades building: a culture where reading is celebrated, shared, and accessible to everyone.
