Roundup: Honoring the Life and Work of Dolly Parton (Statements, Media Reports, and More From Libraries, Literacy Organizations, & Others)

We plan to update this collection as we discover more statements, posts, and booklists from libraries, literacy organizations and others honoring the life and work of Dolly Parton.

Updated: August 31, 2026 4:00 PM

 

Statement From the Dolly Parton Imagination Library

 

Libraries

California: Richmond Public Library
Richmond Public Library Thanks Late Dolly Parton for All the Good Books (via Richmond Standard)

California: San Mateo County Libraries
Dolly Parton: A Legacy of Stories, Music and Literacy

Delaware: Delaware Libraries
Statement from Delaware Libraries on the Passing of Literacy Legend, Dolly Parton

District of Columbia: DC Public Library
Celebrating Country Pioneer and Literacy Advocate Dolly Parton

Georgia: University of Georgia Libraries
I Will Always Love You (Makerspace Event)

Illinois: Illinois Prairie District Public Library
In Loving Memory of Dolly Parton

Iowa: Bettendorf Public Library
Library Has Created a Small Display

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Public Library
Check These Out: Dolly Parton in Books

Iowa: Dewitt Community Library 
Dewitt Library Honors Dolly Parton’s Legacy With Book Display

Iowa: Preston Public Library
Jackson County Library Reflects On Dolly Parton’s Impact On Young Readers

Kansas: Pittsburg Public Library
Librarians Reflect on Dolly Parton’s Literary Legacy (via Morning Sun)

Kentucky: Kenton County Public Library
Thank You, Dolly

Kentucky: Scott County Public Library
Scott County Public Library Honors Dolly Parton

Kentucky: University of Louisville Libraries
To Librarians And Archivists Across Kentucky, Dolly Parton Has Long Been A Friend and an Inspiration
||| Media Coverage (via Courier Journal): UofL Releases Never-Before-Seen Photos of Dolly Parton in Louisville

Maine: Waterville Public Library
In Honor of Dolly

Maryland: Howard County Public Library
Celebrating Dolly Parton

Massachusetts: Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, Ipswich Public Library
North Shore Libraries Honor Dolly Parton’s Life snd Legacy

Massachusetts: Memorial Hall Library of Andover
We Will Always Love Dolly

Michigan: Ann Arbor District Public Library
Dolly Day

Missouri: Kansas City Public Library
Reflecting With Gratitude on Her Advocacy and Support For Children’s Literacy

Montana: Billings Public Library
Billings Librarians Honor Dolly Parton’s Book-Giving Legacy

National: Library of Congress
An (Extremely) Fond Farewell to Dolly Parton, Library Friend and Children’s Literacy Champion

New York: Syosset Public Library
Remembering Dolly Parton and Her Gift of Reading

North Carolina: Farmville Public Library
Farmville Public Library Honors Dolly Parton with Free Books

North Carolina: Lewis & Clark Library
Remembering Dolly Parton And Her Extraordinary Legacy

North Carolina: Southern Folklife Collection of UNC Libraries
UNC Libraries is Home to a Special Dolly Parton Recording. Here’s What to Know

Ohio: Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
Remembering Literacy Advocate Dolly Parton

Ohio: Clark County Public Library
Dolly Parton, January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026

Ohio: Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County
Celebrating Dolly Parton 1946 – 2026

Ohio: Toledo Lucas County Public Library
What a Way to Make a Living: Remembering Dolly Parton

Ontario: Simcoe County Libraries
Honouring Country Music Legend Dolly Parton (via CTV)

Tennessee: Nashville Public Library
Today We Honor the Great Dolly Parton

Tennessee: University of Tennessee Libraries
Celebrating Dolly: Crafts and Music in Medbery Makerspace

Texas: University of North Texas Libraries
Dolly Parton and Liquid Paper

Washington: Spokane Public Library
Book Lady: Dolly Parton, Her Music, And Her Legacy of Early Literacy

 

Organizations

American Library Association (via I Love Libraries)
Remembering Dolly Parton

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
A Tribute to Dolly

Association of American Publishers 
On The Passing of Dolly Parton

National Education Association
Remembering Dolly Parton, Children’s Literacy Champion

North Carolina: Book Harvest
In Memory of Dolly

Ohio: Ohio Imagination Library
Remembering Dolly Parton: A Legacy of Love and Literacy

Philanthropy Roundtable
In Memoriam: Dolly Parton

PJ Library
Dolly Parton Remembered For Inspiring PJ Library and Championing Children’s Literacy

Reading is Fundamental
Remembering Dolly Parton, Champion of Childhood Literacy

The Authors Guild
Dolly Parton: Trailblazing Artist and Literary Philanthropist

The Literacy Cooperative
Honoring Dolly Parton’s Legacy 

 

 

From 2018: Dolly Speaks with Dr. Carla Hayden at the Library of Congress 

 

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Journal Articles, Libraries, News, Public Libraries, Reports, Roundup