Families across Josephine County are invited to gather at their local library later this month for a countywide celebration honoring music icon and literacy advocate Dolly Parton. The Josephine Community Library will host Dolly’s Imagination Celebration on Saturday, January 24, from noon to 2 p.m., with simultaneous events taking place at library branches in Grants Pass, Illinois Valley, Williams, and Wolf Creek.
Organized by the Josephine Community Library, the event is designed to celebrate Parton’s birthday while highlighting the importance of early childhood literacy. The library system has partnered with community supporters to offer a festive afternoon centered on reading, creativity, and family engagement, welcoming children of all ages along with parents and caregivers.
Throughout the two-hour celebration, library branches will host storytimes, hands-on craft activities, and interactive reading challenges designed to encourage young readers to explore books in a fun and accessible way. Families attending the event will also have opportunities to enjoy treats and participate in raffles tied to the reading challenge. In addition, special book giveaways will be offered while supplies last, supported through funding from the Greater Grants Pass Rotary Club.
The celebration also shines a spotlight on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a global literacy initiative founded by Parton that provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth until age five. In Josephine County, the program ensures that every eligible child can receive a new book by mail each month at no cost to their family, helping build home libraries and foster a lifelong love of reading.
Locally, the Imagination Library program has been available since 2018 through a partnership supported by the Grants Pass Rotary Club and the State of Oregon. Since its launch, the program has delivered a substantial impact across the county. As of January 2026, nearly 6,100 children under the age of five have participated, with approximately 182,000 books mailed directly to homes throughout Josephine County. Library officials say those numbers reflect both strong community support and the ongoing need for accessible early literacy resources.
Families with children ages five and younger can register for the Imagination Library either online or in person at any Josephine Community Library branch. Registration requires a valid physical mailing address, as post office boxes are not accepted for the program. Library staff are available during open hours to assist families with completing paper enrollment forms if needed.
Dolly’s Imagination Celebration is free and open to the public, and participants do not need a library card to attend. Library leaders say the event is intended not only as a birthday celebration, but also as a reminder of the powerful role libraries and community partnerships play in supporting children and families.
More information about the celebration, library services, and early literacy programs is available at josephinelibrary.org or by contacting a local Josephine Community Library branch directly.