CELEBRATING DOLLY PARTON 

January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026

Dolly Parton was an icon; a singer, songwriter, actress, author and entrepreneur known for her warm personality, bold style, and dedication to childhood literacy.

The Santa Clara County Library District Foundation is greatly saddened by the news of her passing. Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, more than 332,411,200* books have been gifted to children aged 0-5 all over the world. This includes 150,000* books to kids throughout Santa Clara County. Her gift of early literacy is a legacy that lives on through the Imagination Library.

Thank you, Dolly, for being a champion for literacy and bringing light to so many lives.

* as of August 2026

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Santa Clara County

The Santa Clara County Library Foundation supports the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which is now available for children throughout Santa Clara County. The Imagination Library mails free, high-quality books every month to children under five, inspiring a love of reading in our youngest residents!

• Founded by country singer Dolly Parton in 1995
• Encourages a passion for reading with children and their caregivers
• Provides free, age-appropriate books for children ages 0-5
• Books available in English or Spanish

Enroll your child and join the mission to support childhood literacy. Together, we are building a stronger community throughout Santa Clara County, one book at a time.

Register, or for more information on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, visit sccld.org/imaginationlibrary.

Questions? Contact us at imaginationlibrary@lib.sccgov.org.

Donations

The Imagination Library is a renowned program that has gifted over 224 million books to children worldwide. Thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 1183 and the support of Senator Grove, we can expand this incredible program across California, including here in Santa Clara County.

While we are able to introduce this important initiative around childhood literacy, we need YOUR ongoing support to continue to provide books for children and families in Santa Clara County.

How Your Donations Help

Did you know that with the state match, for only $15.50 you can provide an Imagination Library book to a child each month for 1 year?

Your support of any amount is appreciated! Donations are collected through the Santa Clara County Library District Foundation, Tax ID:  81-0753639.