Dolly Parton’s Legacy Lives Through Books | Eau Claire News

Eau Claire News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 27, 2026 · 1m

Dolly Parton’s passing at 80 has sent shockwaves through Eau Claire County, especially among families receiving books through her beloved Imagination Library — a program that’s gifted over 70,000 books since October 2022 to kids from birth to age five. Started 30 years ago in honor of her illiterate father, the initiative delivers a new book monthly, plus personalized birthday wishes from Dolly herself, with over 300 million books sent nationwide. Locals like Jennifer Eddy call her a “bright light” whose loss is devastating, while authors like Katie Venit see inclusion in the program as a…