It was Dolly Parton's proudest legacy. Now a Australian town must keep it alive

In Brief Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has delivered more than two million books across Australia. In the regional city of Tamworth, more than 3,000 children are reading more books because of Dolly Parton—a mark of Australia's connection to the legendary country singer, actor, and philanthropist. Parton died on Wednesday morning at 80. Tributes have poured in from around the world, but in the regional NSW town of Tamworth, the loss is more personal. The city, dubbed the country music capital of Australia, holds an official sister-city bond with Parton's adopted hometown of Nashville and hosted Parton herself on her last Australian tour in 2014. The Imagination Library, a free book-gifting program founded in 1995 as a tribute to Parton’s illiterate father, has mailed new, age-appropriate books to children from birth until they turn 5, free of charge. In Australia, it has gifted over two million books to 151,000 children across 480 communities since its launch in 2013. In Tamworth, where the program has run since 2019, it has fundamentally changed literacy rates, with over 98% of children born in the region enrolled. Families sign up at no cost, and books are posted monthly, along with reading guidance sheets. Research shows children in the program are read to more often, for longer, and have more books in their homes than average Australian children. This has led to increased library visits and improved literacy outcomes, including higher NAPLAN scores. However, funding remains a challenge. Each book costs $9 per child per month, requiring around $400,000 annually in Tamworth to keep all eligible children enrolled. Lisa Rennie, the program’s ambassador, emphasizes the need for continued financial support to sustain the legacy of Dolly Parton’s philanthropy, especially after her death. Donations are being encouraged to ensure the program continues, as it is the only initiative of its kind in Australia.