Greenfield Public Library

09/01/2026

We have all three of Kim Richardson’s books in the library! How amazing that Dolly not only related so strongly to them, but then wrote 15 songs for an unpublished album inspired by the first book and gave it to Kim as a gift. Another example of the importance she placed on reading, books, and literacy.

Did you know Dolly Parton gifted an unpublished album to a Louisville author?

The book touched on something special for Dolly, a love of literacy.

Dolly was so inspired by the author’s novel that she recorded a soundtrack for it.

She recorded the soundtrack as a 15-song album and gifted it to the author, Kim Michele Richardson—asking for nothing in return.

In 2019, Kim Michele wrote The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek—a tribute to the Pack Horse Librarians who delivered books to rural residents in Eastern Kentucky in the 1930s. The book quickly became a New York Times best seller.

In 2021, Dolly Parton—country music icon and founder of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—read the novel and felt inspired to record a soundtrack.

Kim Michele announced the album in today’s issue of Frazier Weekly. She writes:

“As many know, Dolly was a ‘Book Lady’—a title she loved and greatly honored with her incredible work with literacy and children. We both grew up in poverty—Dolly in the hills of Tennessee and me in a rural Kentucky orphanage in the 1960s.

Dolly read my novel The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek years ago and sent a letter that said among other things, “I read and loved the book and was inspired to write some songs. I enjoyed writing them because I am the Book Lady with my own Imagination Library. Additionally, I related to the people and a lot of things in it.”

Then she gave me an extraordinary gift: Dolly generously created and recorded an unpublished fifteen-song album for me that she titled The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, asking for nothing in return.

In one of those songs, Dolly let me know, “The sweetest gift is to twice give it.” This verse stayed with me a long time and made me realize that we are given two hands, one to help ourselves and one to help others.”

She ends the article:

“I am blessed and honored to have crossed paths with her in this lifetime.”

Read the full article at fraziermuseum.org/weekly/8-31-2026/ -parton.

Pictured: People Magazine excerpt in which Dolly Parton promotes the novel.

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Remembering Dolly Parton.

Dolly loved butterflies because of their beauty and gentle nature. She claimed them as her own little symbol.

Illustration for “My Very First Book of Colors,” published in 1974.

08/28/2026

The library is expected to be closed next week, 8/31-9/4.
If things change, it will be announced as soon as possible. Illinois Heartland Library System is working closely with us. We hope to welcome you back to the library soon!

08/27/2026

Even though the library is temporarily closed, there are things going on behind the scenes! We would like for you to extend a warm welcome to our director, Danyle Houseman. Hopefully you can meet her soon! We are excited to “start a new chapter” as the library continues to improve and expand services and programming for our patrons and for the entire community.

My name is Danyle Houseman, and I’m from the Palmyra area. I’m married and a stepmom to five. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, gardening, canning, and, of course, getting lost in a good book.

My love of books and passion for working with the public are what make me so excited about this new position. I truly look forward to becoming part of the community and helping others discover new worlds, ideas, and experiences through books. I’m excited for the opportunity to connect with people of all ages, share my love of reading, and help make the library a welcoming place for everyone.

I can’t wait to meet everyone once the library reopens.

08/22/2026

I’ve been in contact with IHLS, our library consortium. They are stopping delivery tubs to the library until the building is deemed safe. In the meantime they said to reassure everyone that over-dues etc may show up on your accounts but to not be concerned about them. If you prefer, you may return books to any participating IHLS library in the area such as Carrollton, White Hall, Roodhouse, Carlinville, Jerseyville, Brighton, or Alton Hayner to name the closest ones. You also have the option to continue to order items and have them delivered to any library such as the ones named above. There should be a drop down menu that gives you a choice of delivery places. We are confident that the GRP is doing everything possible to complete this as quickly and as safely as it can be done. Thank you for your patience with the situation!

08/21/2026

From Mayor Brock Meyer:
I would like to thank the GRP for their taking on the preservation of historical buildings on our town square. They took on a task that nobody was willing to do prior to their conception but because of decades of neglect, the building west of the library, often referred to as the “green building”, is not structurally sound enough to last long enough to have its turn at being saved. I want to thank the GRP for the countless hours that they put in behind the scenes in an attempt to save as much history as possible on our square. The city has been working closely with the GRP to ensure that this building is brought down safely due to the proximity of this structure to our city library.

Unfortunately, recent days have proven that this building is an immediate danger to the library and therefore the Greenfield City Council has deemed it necessary to close the library until this neighboring building can be brought down in the coming days. An announcement will be made at the appropriate time regarding the library’s reopening. This area will remain blocked off for public safety reasons.

It is sad to see another piece of Greenfield lost to history, but I applaud the GRP for making every effort within their abilities to save this building, and their grace displayed in working with the city to safely bring it down.

08/21/2026

The City Council has requested that the library close indefinitely due to concerns with the building to our west. Every effort is being made to remedy the situation. Safety always comes first. Thank you for your patience.