Rolling Stone gives an inside look at Dolly Parton's Imagination Library® and the team behind its success.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is featured in an exclusive online article by Rolling Stone. In the article, dated March 8, 2021, Rolling Stone highlights the successes of Dolly's book gifting program and reveals how a small team managed to expand the program into a worldwide success.

Inspired by her father's inability to read and write, Dolly Parton launched her Imagination Library in 1995 near her small hometown in Sevier County, Tennessee. Dolly’s vision was to inspire a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month, regardless of the family’s income.

Total Books Gifted

Since 1995, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has grown from a hometown effort to an international program offered in 5 countries. More than 155 million free books have been gifted as of March 2021, with over 1.8 million children enrolled in the program across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.

So, how does she get books into the hands of all those children? Rolling Stone explains that while Dolly is an undeniable force, her passionate team at the Dollywood Foundation and its network of partners and affiliates have been crucial to the program's success.

For a deeper look at the inner workings of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, read the full article on Rollingstone.com