Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is one of the largest children’s literacy programs in the world, gifting over 300 million books worldwide since launching in 1995. But the man leading the charge says the program is about more than mailing out books each month. It’s about making sure every child can dream big and cultivating meaningful partnerships around the world.
“While in many ways I believe Dolly’s legacy of love, acceptance and kindness may be her greatest gift to the world, her Imagination Library is deeply personal to Dolly, and by extension, to all of us who have the privilege of stewarding her vision,” Dollywood Foundation President Jeff Conyers told Knox News.
Conyers oversees the global early-childhood literacy initiative that delivers free books to millions of kids from birth to age 5. His role expanded at the top of the new year to be Parton’s senior business representative for her philanthropic and Dollywood-related business interests, taking over from her longtime business advisor Ted Miller, who retired.
To celebrate one of Parton’s most enduring legacies, in a written Q&A with Knox News, Conyers discussed the impact of Imagination Library, how the program’s reach continues to grow and what excites him about his next chapter with the Dollywood Foundation.
The Imagination Library has expanded from a local program into one of the world’s largest early-childhood literacy initiatives. What do you see as its most profound impact so far?
Conyers: The most profound impact is really quite simple, but deeply powerful. We’ve helped foster a love of reading in millions of children and families around the world. When a child receives a high-quality book in the mail, addressed to them, every single month from birth to age 5, it builds a sense of identity, pride, and possibility. We hear time and again from parents, caregivers, and teachers that children start kindergarten more prepared and more confident. And we know from research that early exposure to books is one of the strongest predictors of literacy success later in life.
How has Dolly Parton’s original vision shaped the way you approach growth, partnerships, and innovation within the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library?
Conyers: Dolly’s vision has always been rooted in access – making sure every child, no matter where they live or what their family circumstances may be, can dream big and have the tools to achieve those dreams. That vision keeps us grounded as we grow.
We don’t chase growth for the sake of numbers. We seek out meaningful partnerships – especially with state governments, nonprofits, and community leaders – who understand and believe in our mission and can help us deliver it sustainably.
Dolly’s vision for all children being able to receive the gift of a book each month encourages us to be innovative in how we deliver the Imagination Library as well, whether that’s through turnkey models for states who want to implement the Imagination Library statewide, new bilingual offerings, or strengthening and offering new resources that support our local Imagination Library partners and families.
As the Imagination Library continues to grow, what opportunities or innovations excite you most about its future?
Conyers: We’re incredibly excited about deepening our impact through full statewide coverage in all 50 U.S. states and expanding internationally in a meaningful way. In the U.S., many states are now using our turnkey implementation model, allowing for rapid, efficient growth with dedicated staff and systems built to reach a majority of children and families. We’re also focused on offering more diverse and bilingual books. The opportunity to reach every child under 5 with a book each month is within sight, and that’s a thrilling horizon.
You’ve taken on added responsibilities related to Dolly’s businesses and philanthropy. What are your top priorities for the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library as you step into this next chapter?
Conyers: My top priority is ensuring that Dolly’s legacy, values and heart remain central in everything we do, across both her philanthropic and business ventures. For the Imagination Library specifically, it means protecting the quality and integrity of the program as we scale, investing in our team, and continuing to build strong, sustainable partnerships.
I’ll also be focused on aligning our efforts across Dolly’s broader philanthropic work to create more opportunities for her to further support communities and efforts that hold special meaning for her. On the business side, that means working closely with our partners to ensure we’re building aligned, purpose-driven ventures that reflect Dolly’s values and create meaningful value for the people and places we serve.
What does it mean to you to lead what many consider as Dolly Parton’s ‘greatest gift to the world’?
Conyers: It’s a tremendous honor, and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. While in many ways I believe Dolly’s legacy of love, acceptance, and kindness may be her greatest gift to the world, her Imagination Library is deeply personal to Dolly, and by extension, to all of us who have the privilege of stewarding her vision. She was inspired to create the program by her father, who she always points out was one of the smartest men she every knew, despite never learning to read and write.
Leading this work means carrying forward her legacy of inspiration, imagination, and belief in the potential of every child. It’s about using the tools we have – books, partnerships, persistence – to help change lives, one child at a time. I often think about what Dolly says: “If you can read, you can do anything.” That belief is our North Star.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email [email protected].
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