I’ve been looking for the sunshine
You know I ain’t seen it in so long
But everything’s gonna work out just fine
And everything’s gonna be all right
That’s been all wrong
Lyrics from Dolly Parton’s song “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”
If you walk or drive by the Baldwinsville Public Library, you’ve seen the “Thank you, Dolly” sign we put up front. If you are wondering why we did this, I’d be happy to tell you. I’m KC, the Children’s Services Librarian, and Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library has done more for our community than I could in my whole lifetime.
Dolly Parton was first known for her music. Her first album, Hello, I’m Dolly was released in 1967, I grew up listening to “Jolene” and “Coat of Many Colors” in 1996. I was 4 at the time and was excited to listen to her songs. During that time, I was also lucky to receive free books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library as well. The memories of reading with my grandma would be something that would drive me to want to be a librarian.
The Imagination Library here in Syracuse is managed by the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County which also supports a network of organizations working toward literacy for all. The Coalition develops resources, coordinates community initiatives, and supports local literacy programs, including early childhood reading, adult education and family literacy efforts. The coalition works with us here, as well as other libraries in the county, to help instill a love of reading within each and every child they help. Many of my storytime favorites are books that have been given out by the Imagination Library backed by Dolly’s big-hearted legacy.
Her work continues in our community. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is celebrating a major milestone on September 19 at Le Moyne College, marking the distribution of 2 million free books to children in Onondaga County. The early-literacy program mails a book each month to children from birth to age 5, completely for free. The Imagination Celebration will have balloon art, food trucks, ice cream, and giveaways. I will be there representing the library. I hope you will be there to celebrate, too.
With that in mind, many of us may have been touched in ways by Dolly Parton, whether it was her music bringing family together, her sparkling approach to acting, her many other works, or by the Imagination Library, we here at the Baldwinsville Public Library wanted to give remembrance and thank her for everything she did.
Thank You, Dolly.
We Miss & Love You.