Dolly Parton meets with Pullman groups in western Washington

Dolly Parton is visiting Washington State today, to celebrate the Imagination Library achieving statewide coverage.

Parton invited Neill Public Library personnel, the Pullman Rotary Club and the Women’s Leadership Guild to the celebratory event in western Washington, according to a news release. The groups helped support the local expansion of the Imagination Library in Whitman County.

The Imagination Library was created in 1995 to inspire children’s love of reading and learning, according to the news release. The program provides high-quality, age-appropriate books to children around the world.

It’s free to families, and open to all children under the age of 5 in areas within operating programs. It costs $26 to sponsor a child for a full year to receive monthly book deliveries.

Parton began the program in her hometown in Sevier County, Tenn., and it’s grown to span across five countries. The Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books worldwide since its inception, according to the news release.

The United Way of Whitman County manages enrollment of Pullman families in the program. Since its first registration in April 2022, the program has served 864 youths, according to the news release. About 737 children are registered in the program, and 124 have graduated.