What is the first thing you think of when someone mentions Dolly Parton?

A petite blonde woman who is a singer, songwriter, actor, author, philanthropist, activist, icon? She is all of those things.

Her philanthropy came to Barry County in 2022 through her Imagination Library. Dolly’s Imagination Library is a program where children from birth to age 5 receive an age appropriate book every month at no cost to the family.

There are two Imagination Library affiliates in our county. Teresa Phillips, of Exeter, heard of the program and wanted family members to participate. One problem, there was no local affiliate, so she started one.

It is very unusual for a single person to start an affiliate. She formed a non-profit, wrote grants and put the word out. Initially, only the children in Exeter and Cassville were eligible. The program grew to include Shell Knob, Seligman, Washburn and Wheaton.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Monett Community Foundation, children in Monett are now eligible. As of April 2023, the Imagination Library has delivered more than 3,600 books to children in Barry County.

Michelle Hilburn, the librarian for the Purdy school district, knew of the program and wanted the children of her district to participate. Purdy became the first school district in Missouri to be an affiliate.

These two women have made it possible for every child from birth to 5 in Barry County benefit from Dolly’s Imagination Library.

Dolly’s Imagination Library began in 1995 in Sevier County, Tenn., the county where Parton grew up. Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, she wanted to help children fall in love with books.

From the one county in Tennessee the program has spread across the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. Over 200 million free, age-appropriate books have been mailed to children.

There is nothing better than sharing a book with a child. Watching their faces as they listen to the story and view the illustrations is an experience everyone needs to have. Reading to a child encourages brain development, imagination, develops language and emotions. It strengthens relationships. It teaches children empathy.

Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. To be aware of the needs of others, to be aware of injustice, be socially aware, in other words “woke.” For some reason recently, some in our society have decided that this is a bad thing. When did thinking of others become un-American? When did not repeating past mistakes become unpatriotic? Why is it wrong to care about people who do not look like you? What has caused the division in our society?

Dolly Parton released a new song, World on Fire. She addresses this issue: How do we heal this great divide? Do we care enough to try? If you have not had a chance to hear this song, I encourage you to make the time to do so.

Dolly is healing the world a book at a time. Teresa Phillips and Michelle Hilburn are helping her.

One more thing, in June the American Library Association is honoring Dolly with a lifetime membership for her accomplishments in the world of libraries, learning, and literacy. Commitment to early childhood literacy and access to books for all children is a core value of the ALA.

Thank you, Dolly, Teresa, and Michelle.

Cheryl Williams is the branch supervisor of the Cassville Branch Library. She may be reached at cheryl@blrlibrary. com.