Written by Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
Communities across the country, including the state of Ohio, are celebrating today, Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day, an homage to her iconic single and film "9 to 5."
Dolly Parton rose to fame as a country musician and successful businesswoman while staying true to her Appalachian roots. She dedicated much of her career to childhood literacy by founding Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
The program mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to enrolled children ages birth to five More than one million Ohio children have participated in the Imagination Library .
Dolly Parton passed away last month at age 80. Kristy High, program manager for the Hamilton County Imagination Library, continues her legacy by educating families on the importance of early literacy through her work with the organization.
"It's an honor to be able to continue what [Dolly] started and what she accomplished with literacy: Making sure kids have free books and families feel more confident reading with their kids," says Kristy. "I'm feeling really blessed and honored for us to continue this work in Hamilton County."
You may have seen Kristy out in the community, including at CHPL locations. Hamilton County Imagination Library is housed within Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, but Kristy visits schools and libraries throughout the county to help kids get signed up.
"Within the clinics, any kid that comes in that is birth to five years old will get information about Imagination Library," says Kristy. "We'll even help them enroll in real time, or send them with the resources to get enrolled."
Newborns are now automatically enrolled at birth in Ohio, Kristy notes. Hamilton County alone has 32,000, or 66 percent of eligible kids enrolled.
"Reading is the groundwork to success," says Kristy. "Having these free books, kids can get excited about reading and not see it as something that's a chore or boring."
Kristy is also a children's author, primarily writing books on health topics for kids to help families navigate topics like anxiety, autism, ADHD, and sensory issues. Her books include Did I Upset Grandma and How to Tame my Busy Brain.
When she's out in the community promoting Imagination Library, Kristy says kids affectionally refer to Dolly Parton as "the book lady."
"They're just so excited to have their name on this piece of mail and to also share the books with their parents," adds Kristy.
Ohio Imagination Library
All Ohio families with children under five can get a free book each month with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio.
Imagination Library is available in all Ohio zip codes.
"It's an amazing way to get your kids involved with the reading, to get excited about reading, to spend time with them, and [it's great] for brain development overall," says Kristy.
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