Great artists can do great things also outside their primary careers. Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton recently celebrated in the Library of Congress, Washington the 100th book that was donated to a child in the U.S. She is the founder of the Imagination Library program that has already been in operation for 20 years. Every month, the program mails books to children.

Dolly Parton started the program in 1995 with her father, who also was the inspiration for the initiative. Her father missed school, and couldn’t read or write. The Partons wanted to help children in their home region Sevier County, but later the program expanded to cover the nation.

The Imagination Library is financed and run with participating organizations, like libraries and other non-profit organizations. A panel of educators and experts choose the books that are mailed to children under five years of age. Since the children are not expected to be able to read by themselves, it is the parents’ responsibility to take care that the quality time with books happens.

Dolly Parton is proud of her title ‘Book Lady’ that children have given to her.

View a video recorded in the Library of Congress where Dolly Parton tells about the program and her voracious reading habits.

You can view photos from the event in the Library of Congress at the Washingtonian web page.