Miss Cass shares a new book during MJB Library’s Preschool Story Hour, which is held each Friday at 10 a.m.
By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
The flag in front of the MJB Library is at half-staff today, and a sparkly “Remembering Dolly” display encourages patrons to read about the woman considered to be an icon and a national treasure. During a time when our country is so divided, it seems that the love for Dolly Parton is universal.
What is it about this self-proclaimed “Backwoods Barbie” that makes her so appealing? Everyone is aware of her talents as an entertainer, but there are a lot of multi-talented performers who are not so revered and admired. What is it about Parton that caused a nation to mourn, the British Band of the Coldstream Guard to play “9 to 5” during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and the President to declare that flags should fly at half-staff for a week?
In a world that reveres money more than character, power more than kindness and accumulating wealth more than charity, Dolly Parton was a unicorn. She commented, “I always count my blessings more than I count my money. I don’t work for money. Never did.”
Parton, whose humanitarian deeds were not widely publicized before her death, believed that philanthropy didn’t set her apart from others; rather, she saw it as just part of being human. In 2022, Parton told the Associated Press, “I think it’s important for everyone to do their share to help their fellow man.”
In a culture that admires billionaires, Dolly Parton made a choice not to be a billionaire, but rather to reinvest her money in people instead of hoarding wealth for the sake of accumulating wealth.
During her career, Parton has supported medical, educational and social charities that were important to her. The most personal cause that Parton funded is the Imagination Library, which sends children all over the world a book each month from birth until the child turns five. More than 300 million books have been sent since 1995.
Parton said, “My father could not read and write, and I saw how crippling that could be.” Aside from improving early literacy, the program helps children’s self-esteem. As Parton said, “It’s the fact that they get recognized. They get this little book with their little name on it in the mail, and they feel special. They start taking pride in themselves, and they know somebody out there is thinking of them.”
When asked in 2024 how she wants to be remembered, Parton said, “I hope people will just say she was a good ol’ girl, you know? She tried hard, she worked hard and she tried to make the world a better place and tried to make people happy. And I will be doing that till I keel over.”
We can all learn a lesson from Parton. All of us can share our time, talents and energy to improve the world around us. Maybe each of us can be a little more like Dolly to celebrate her extraordinary life. To help carry on her legacy, her family requested donations to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Our library invites anyone interested in promoting literacy to join our Friends of the Guthrie Center Library.
Young residents of Guthrie, Greene, Audubon and Carroll Counties can join the global community of readers fostered by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, made possible through local support from Our Counties Health Foundation. From the moment of birth until they reach the milestone of kindergarten, children can be registered to receive a complimentary book delivered to their doorstep every month. To begin this literacy journey, families may visit the official program website or simply utilize the QR code available at our library to complete the enrollment process.
The library has exciting programs lined up for fall, including LEGO Mania Day at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Creation Corner at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Working with the Guthrie County/ISU Extension, the library will present a youth program entitled “Lots of Layers” on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.
Adults, be sure to put the Social Security Pre-Retirement Presentation on your calendar for Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.
Patrons are reminded that due to the Guthrie County Fair and Labor Day, the library will be closed Saturday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 7.
Stop by the MJB Library to check out a book from our Remembering Dolly display.