Dolly Parton's Imagination Library project has given thousands of free books to children in Newcastle, with city officials saying the music icon's legacy will benefit families for generations. The scheme, adopted by Newcastle City Council last year, gifts a free book every month to all newborn babies in the city for their first five years.
So far, 15,700 books have been distributed to more than 3,000 children on Tyneside. The announcement follows the death of the legendary American singer at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer, prompting tributes worldwide.
A Legacy Beyond Music
Beyond hits like 9 To 5 and Jolene, Parton was known for fostering a love of reading among millions of children. Her Imagination Library, launched in 1995 and inspired by her father's inability to read, has given more than 300 million books to youngsters globally.
Coun Wendy Taylor, Newcastle City Council's cabinet member for integrated health and adult social care, said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Dolly Parton. Dolly was an inspiration and a rare unifier in an increasingly polarised world, changing countless lives for the better.
"Here in Newcastle, through our work with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, thousands of children have received free books. Not only has that helped our ambition to give every child the best start but its positive impact on family literacy will be a legacy that will be felt for generations to come.
"Though we grieve her loss with the rest of the world that work will continue, and we hope that Dolly will continue to inspire a love of reading in the hearts of children everywhere."
Expanded Pilot Scheme
The council initially launched a pilot covering all babies born between May 2025 and April 2026. That has since been extended, doubling in scope to include every child born up to April 2027 and reaching babies born outside Newcastle in that two-year period who have since moved into the city.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told reporters in London: "I was a huge fan of what Dolly did around literacy around the world. I was culture secretary when her libraries were first coming through and the books that went into communities across Britain. What a legacy to leave.
"It was so moving to hear about her dad and how that experience made her want to give back so much. She leaves that legacy as well as, obviously, great music that people will treasure forever."
