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Linn County hits 500,000 books gifted through Dolly Parton program

The United Way of East Central Iowa marks the milestone for the Imagination Library serving local children from birth to age five.

By Lena OkaforPublished Jul 11, 2026, 1:40 PM CT · Updated Jul 26, 2026, 3:00 PM CT1 min read
Illustration: Linn County hits 500,000 books gifted through Dolly Parton program
AI illustration · CR Pulse Graphics Desk

Cedar Rapids and Linn County families now share 500,000 reading moments after the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library reached that total of books delivered.

The local affiliate managed by the United Way of East Central Iowa sends one free, age-appropriate book each month to enrolled children regardless of family income.

Dolly Parton said, "When I was a little girl, I lived in the Great Smoky Mountains... I dreamed of being able to help all the children in the world. Imagination Library is helping me realize that dream."

The program began its local run through the Imagination Library site and continues to grow enrollment across the county.

The milestone was noted in 2026 with no confirmed details yet on the exact delivery date or recipient family.

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Sources

  1. 1.Cedar Rapids Celebrates 500,000 Moments of Reading Thanks to Dolly Parton — 98.1 KHAK
  2. 2.Imagination Library - United Way of East Central Iowa — United Way of East Central Iowa
  3. 3.Linn County Imagination Library Affiliate Page — Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

This story was researched, drafted, and fact-checked with AI assistance, then published automatically after passing TheCRPulse source, safety, visual, and editorial-readiness controls. Read our Editorial Standards & AI Disclosure. Spot an error? Request a correction.

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