08/25/2026
Julian Community Mourns the Loss of Dolly Parton, Celebrating Her Legacy of Childhood Literacy
JULIAN, CA — The volunteers and community supporters of the Imagination Library of Julian join millions around the world in grieving the passing of Dolly Parton. While the world knows her as a legendary musician and cultural icon, to our mountain community—and to children across the globe—she was first and foremost the "Book Lady" who believed every child deserved the gift of reading.
Inspired by her vision that early literacy builds a foundation for a lifetime of success, the Imagination Library of Julian was established to ensure that every preschool-aged child in our rural region could experience the joy of receiving a new, high-quality book in the mail each month at no cost to their family.
Over the past six years, our small, local volunteer team has put more than 7,000 free books directly into the hands and homes of Julian-area preschoolers. Each one of those 7,000 books carries a piece of Dolly’s heart, generosity, and vision.
"Dolly Parton gave our small town a powerful tool to nurture our children’s imagination and love for learning," said Eric Jones, Local Program Coordinator. "Every time a child in Julian runs to the mailbox and finds a book addressed to them, they are feeling Dolly’s warmth and belief in their future. Her vision transformed early childhood literacy in our community, and we are deeply committed to honoring her memory by ensuring her legacy continues right here in our hills."
The Imagination Library of Julian extends its heartfelt condolences to Dolly’s family, loved ones, and the global family of Imagination Library partners.
Our local program will continue its mission uninterrupted, keeping Dolly's spirit alive one book, one child, and one home at a time. Community members wishing to honor Dolly’s memory locally are invited to support early literacy efforts or enroll their preschool children at https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/CAJULIAN/
About the Imagination Library of Julian:
The Imagination Library of Julian is a community-organized non-profit initiative dedicated to fostering a love of reading among preschool children in the Julian area. Operating as a local affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library with leadership from Julian Pathways, Inc., the organization covers the cost of books and mailing to ensure every enrolled child from birth to age five receives a free, age-appropriate book each month.
