Dolly Parton’s ‘visionary’ book scheme provided more than 400,000 books to Irish children

The ‘Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library’ provides age-appropriate books tailored to individual children aged from birth to five years old, with one book sent each month. Picture: Rui Vieira/PA Wire

A “visionary” scheme founded by Dolly Parton has helped provide children in Ireland with more than 400,000 books, as the country music icon’s philanthropic efforts were praised following news of her death.

The country music icon died after a “brief battle with cancer” on Tuesday, her publicist said.

The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides age-appropriate books tailored to individual children aged from birth to five years old, with one book sent each month. 

Participating bodies are able to avail of discounted books because of the scale at which the library operates.

The scheme launched on February 14, 2019, at the Childhood Development Initiative’s headquarters in Tallaght, Co Dublin.

“Every registered child receives a book through the post every month, and that book is specially selected by a panel of people who know all about the right book for the children at particular stages of development,” said Marian Quinn, CEO of CDI.

“And very importantly, the book arrives with the child's name on it, and that is a massive excitement for children that they're getting something and their name is actually on it.

“Having books in the home is a really important way of preparing children for school. They get to hold a book, handle a book, know how to turn the pages. Really importantly, parents are much more motivated about taking time to read to the child.

“When children get their last book on their fifth birthday, they get a letter from Dolly congratulating them on their graduation, which is really lovely. Obviously the children don't know who Dolly is, but the parents do."

Children attend a CDI Dolly Parton Imagination Library event at St Mark's Family and Youth Centre in Tallaght, Co. Dublin.

Books in homes across Ireland

Hailing from a working-class background, Parton openly championed and took pride in her upbringing. 

Tallaght, a sprawling suburb in south-west Dublin, also features pockets of some of the most disadvantaged areas in Ireland.

“Dolly sung the ‘Coat of Many Colours’ and how that's about the poverty she grew up in, and you how her mom having to kind of make do. Dolly always talked very openly about her growing up in the Appalachian Mountains and how poor they were,” Ms Quinn told the Irish Examiner.

“As her fame grew and her wealth grew, she looked at how she could do something for her own community.”

Ms Quinn said she had no doubt the scheme would continue following Parton’s death.