East Texas (KLTV) – Following the death of legendary country singer and philanthropist Dolly Parton, East Texas community leaders are pledging to carry on her literacy legacy through her signature Imagination Library program.
The program, which provides free monthly books to children from birth to age 5, has distributed tens of thousands of books locally.
East Texas partners say they received assurances from the Dollywood Foundation that a long-term plan is in place to ensure deliveries continue uninterrupted.
In Gregg County, the Greater Longview United Way has distributed more than 90,000 books over the last three and a half years, serving about 2,500 local children.
“We want to provide those resources to our local families to ensure that kids have every opportunity to have a strong start to school,” said GLUW Executive Director Dr. Evan Dolive.
Further south in Angelina County, the T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library in Diboll has enrolled 150 active children since launching nearly two years ago.
Library Director Justin Barkley says local organizers are determined to expand the program countywide.
Parton, who often said she was most proud of being known as “The Book Lady,” launched the initiative in 1995.
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