Leisure & Culture Dundee is encouraging people across Dundee to support children's access to books and reading as part of the first-ever Give Like Dolly Day on 25 September.
The global day of giving celebrates the impact of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which provides free books each month to children from birth to age five, helping to foster a lifelong love of reading.
In Dundee, the programme is delivered through a partnership between Leisure & Culture Dundee and Stobswell Forum, ensuring children across the city can receive high-quality books direct to their homes at no cost to families.
Give Like Dolly Day shines a spotlight on the local organisations, supporters and communities that help make the programme possible and encourages people to invest in children's futures through the power of reading.
Councillor Lee Mills who is co-ordinating the project in Dundee said:
"Together, we are helping to put books directly into the hands of children and families, opening up a world of imagination, stories and the love of reading. We have already delivered an incredible 3,782 books to children across Dundee and when we add this to our Care Experienced Programme, provided by the Scottish Government this brings the total number of books mailed to 26,666 here in Dundee. Dolly has truly made an impact here in Dundee. Her legacy will live on in every child who opens a book."
Anna Day, Head of Culture and Libraries at Leisure & Culture Dundee, said:
"Our libraries are at the heart of communities across Dundee, helping children and families discover the joy of reading. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a wonderful extension of that work, putting books directly into children's homes and helping to foster a lifelong love of reading from the earliest years.
"Working alongside Stobswell Forum, we're proud to help deliver the programme locally and support Give Like Dolly Day. We're encouraging individuals, community groups and local businesses to get involved, as every donation helps ensure more Dundee children can experience the excitement of receiving their very own book each month."
Helena Barrett-Duncan, Dollywood Foundation Regional Director for Scotland, said:
"For Dolly, giving was always personal and from her heart. She believed deeply in helping people, especially children, and she always felt if you are in a position to help, you should help. Give Like Dolly Day is an opportunity for people everywhere to not only support their local Imagination Library partners but also other local organisations helping children."
Rebecca Holmes, whose child is enrolled in the programme, said:
"We feel so lucky to receive a new book each month from Dolly's Imagination Library. It's wonderful to see my little boy's love of stories grow, and watching his face light up when a new book arrives is so special."
Founded by Dolly Parton in 1995 in honour of her father, who could not read or write, the Imagination Library has grown into the world's largest early years book-gifting programme. More than 300 million books have now been gifted to children across the world.
As part of Give Like Dolly Day, people and organisations are encouraged to:
- Donate to support the Dundee Imagination Library programme
- Encourage workplaces, businesses and community organisations to support the programme through donations or fundraising activities
- Help raise awareness of the programme among families with children under five
- Share how they are supporting children and literacy in their community using #GiveLikeDolly
Encourage eligible families to register for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
How to Donate
People can support Dundee's Imagination Library programme by making a donation online:
- Visit https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/
- Select GBP (£) as your currency.
- Tick "I would like to designate this donation to a specific Imagination Library Local Program Partner."
- Search for and select DUN – Lochee Imagination Library.
- If you are a UK taxpayer, tick Gift Aid to increase the value of your donation at no extra cost.
- Complete your donation.
For more information about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Dundee, including eligibility and how to register, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com or speak to staff at Charleston, Lochee or Menzieshill Community Libraries.
