Bellingham Public Library is proud to join the Pickford Film Center in co-presenting The Library That Dolly Built, a behind-the-scenes look at the international non-profit program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The film is available now through January 2021 at the Pickford Film Center’s online virtual screening room: The Library That Dolly Built – Pickford Film Center. Tickets are $12 General, $10 Pickford members.
Featuring the music of Dolly Parton, the film is narrated by actress and author, Danica McKellar. It is produced by Land Grant Films, directed by journalism professor Nick Geidner, edited by video instructor Clinton Elmore and crewed by 15 University of Tennessee students.
“Dolly Parton is a children’s literacy legend,” said Bellingham Public Library Director Rebecca Judd. “I am so impressed by her longstanding commitment to the power of stories and reading.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that was launched by singer/writer/actress Dolly Parton in 1995 to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee. Each month, free books are gifted to children from birth to age five to foster a love of reading. Over the past 25 years, the program has grown to include five countries and now gifts over 1 million free books to children each month. The Library That Dolly Built tells this story.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world,” says Parton.
Virtual Storytimes Promote Children’s Literacy Locally
Bellingham Public Library is also deeply committed to children’s literacy, and previously offered 19 storytimes per week at the downtown Children’s Library. Throughout the pandemic, Bellingham Children’s Services staff have continued to record virtual storytimes from their homes for children ages birth – 5 years. Each highlights the fun and importance of the Five Early Literacy Practices of talking, singing, reading, writing and playing. The public can register for virtual storytimes at BellinghamPublicLibrary.org/storytimes.