Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will continue its operations following the death of its founder, a spokesperson for the Dollywood Company confirmed Tuesday. The program, which provides free books to children from birth until age five, will maintain its regular distribution schedule across the United States and four other countries.
The Imagination Library began in 1995 as a local initiative in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton was raised. The organization reported that the program has since expanded to serve one in six children under the age of five in the U.S. Families participating in the program receive one age-appropriate book by mail every month.
Eligibility for the program is not restricted by a family's financial status or income level. The Imagination Library and its local partners cover all costs associated with the books and postage. To participate, residents must live in a district where a local partner is active, which can be verified through the organization's website using a ZIP code.
Families who are currently enrolled or who sign up via their local library or the organization's website will see no change in their monthly mail delivery. A child enrolled at birth would receive a total of 60 books by the time they reach their fifth birthday. Because the program relies on local partners and donations, the Dollywood Company has suggested that supporters contribute to the foundation to ensure the long-term stability of the book distributions.
The program's infrastructure, which links international distribution with local community partners, remains in place to facilitate these monthly deliveries. The Dollywood Company confirmed that the service model, which uses age-targeted selection to provide different books to newborns versus four-year-olds, will function as planned. As of August 25, 2026, there are no reported changes to registration deadlines or the scope of the program's international reach.
In addition to the program's operational status, the White House announced that U.S. flags will be flown at half-staff for one week starting Tuesday to mark Parton's death at age 80. Tributes from various lawmakers have been issued following the announcement by Parton's family.