Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library that celebrates reading in the area.
A Scottish council will dedicate a day to Dolly Parton every year to mark the impact of her reading scheme.
Renfrewshire Council has voted to celebrate the musical icon on her birthday with an official ‘Dolly Day’.
Parton, who turned 80 in January, launched her reading initiative in Britain in 2007, having already pioneered it in the US.
The Imagination Library gives a book a month to children aged two to five, and Renfrewshire Council joined the initiative in 2021.
Parton said her father’s inability to read motivated her to promote reading.
‘Extraordinary impact’
Provost Lorraine Cameron put forward a motion at last week’s full council meeting paying tribute to Parton.
She said the day would celebrate the “extraordinary impact” that the reading scheme had had on children in the area.
The provost added: “Now Dolly Parton may be a global superstar, a bigger superstar than any of us, a singer-songwriter, philanthropist and she’s of course a cultural icon.
“But through that Imagination Library of hers, she’s done something really beautiful and simple and very profoundly powerful which is putting books in the hand of her children.”
The motion, which received unanimous backing across the chamber, resolved to use ‘Dolly Day’ as an opportunity to celebrate reading, imagination and learning as well as promote the benefits of the Imagination Library to families in the area.
It encouraged schools, early years settings, libraries and community organisations to participate in celebrations and activities which highlight the importance of books, storytelling and imagination.
Councillor Jim Paterson, who seconded the motion, added: “For me, Dolly Day is not just about celebrating her 80th birthday, although that’s an extremely important milestone for her personally.
“It’s also about highlighting what I think is a model of leadership that she’s demonstrated that is rooted in community and opportunity and for giving practical help to those most vulnerable.”
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