Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – The Arkansas Imagination Library said Wednesday it was joining people across the world in mourning the death of Dolly Parton, the “Queen of Country” and humanitarian and philanthropist and vowed to continue her legacy of empowering children through literacy.
In 1995, Parton founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to honor her father, who could not read or write. It has expanded from its roots as a book-gifting program for children in Sevier County, TN, into a worldwide foundation that has gifted over 300 million books to children.
The Arkansas Imagination Library is a licensed partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. It works with more than 55 Local Program Partners to provide monthly books to children from birth to age five throughout the state. Officials said monthly book deliveries will continue.
In Craighead County, 2,791 children are enrolled out of 7,526 children aged 0-5, according to the Arkansas Imagination Library. Nettleton Public Schools is the new Local Program Partner, which began in December 2025. The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library has had the program available in some form since December 2005.
The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library said in a social media post that it was “deeply saddened” by Parton’s passing. It made another post Thursday afternoon saying it had a pink cart filled with free children’s books, “just as Dolly would have wanted.”
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“Dolly Parton’s legacy reaches far beyond music. Through the Imagination Library, she gave millions of children the opportunity to discover the joy of reading and the power of imagination. Her passing deeply saddens us, and we take a moment to reflect on her amazing contributions to the world,” said Dr. Charlotte Parham, Executive Director of the Arkansas Imagination Library, in a press release. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to continue her mission in Arkansas. Every book we place in a child’s hands is a tribute to Dolly’s belief that literacy can change lives. Her legacy will live on in the stories, dreams, and futures of Arkansas children.”
Parton visited the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion in May 2022 to celebrate the Imagination Library becoming available in all 75 counties, including Craighead. According to information from the Arkansas Imagination Library, more than 59,000 Arkansas children were enrolled, and Imagination Library affiliates had delivered more than 3 million books across the state at the time of her visit.
Today, more than 82,000 Arkansas children receive an Imagination Library book in the mail each month, and more than 7 million books have been delivered since the program began in Arkansas in 2005.
Parton died yesterday (Aug. 25, 2026) at age 80 after a “brief battle with cancer,” according to USA Today. K8 News reported that Parton made a stop in Jonesboro in 1989, performing for a fundraiser for the Junior Auxiliary of Jonesboro.
Memorial gifts are asked to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, her family requested. In addition, Arkansas residents can donate directly to the Arkansas Imagination Library, and donations can be designated to support children in a specific Arkansas county.
To enroll your child in the program, click here. Donations can be made here.
“Thank you, Dolly. We will always love you,” the Arkansas Imagination Library said.
Update: This article was updated to include information about a book cart with free children’s books at the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library.
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