As we all know, Dolly Parton died. She was an amazing human in so many ways. I am legitimately sad that we lost her. And she died around the corner (literally) from where my son was sitting in his Vanderbilt dorm room. Steps from where I was standing on Monday morning as I was saying goodbye after move-in (when she was behind those walls). It gave me chills.
There is so much to say but, for this blog I want to focus on her work with books, literacy, and libraries.
Before we get there though, I know you are all getting those displays up to honor her-- in every department-- so, I wanted to remind you how to make those displays stretch past the next few days and the limited explicitly "Dolly" books.
You should pull other books about the history of country music, Eastern TN, the Smokey Mountains (yes even guide books) and the memories and biographies of other popular musicians (living and dead) and not just country.
It is not only that people are going to want to read about Dolly and Dolly adjacent things. It is more than that. When someone this ubiquitously popular dies, people who wouldn't normally visit the library come in to see what we have about that person. They know the library is the place to go for information. Make sure you are ready to receive new (to you) patrons by having up displays that anticipate their needs. Maybe the Dolly books are out, but they will be perusing what else you have and showcasing the breadth of your offerings in a variety of Dolly adjacent displays will showcase the breadth of your holdings and how you are there to help them anytime they visit.
I have seen this happen in real time. Someone comes in for info or a book tied to a current event and they leave with something else (as well) because they forgot how much we have to offer. And if only a small percentage of these people come back, you have added new library users and supporters to your community.
Okay obligatory RA Service statement -- done. The other thing people re going to ask about is Dolly Patron's Imagination Library. While it began as a way to mail books to kids, it has expanded by working directly through local public libraries. This part of the program is less well known, even by librarians.
Since people are extremely interested in learning more (I cannot even get the page to find a program near you to load the traffic is so heavy) and chances are very high that your library is not an official partner, you are going to need to have information ready for your staff to talk to patrons. Some may even be asking you to join.
But don't worry, Becky is here to help you. My friend is the Director of the Linden Free Public Library. The only partner with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in the state of NJ is the Friends of Linden Library who fully fund and administer the program with donations from the public.
The ABC7 NY affiliate came to their library yesterday to report on the program. Click here to watch the video and read the written story here. The President of the Friends does an excellent job explaining the program for a general audience. However, you may have questions of a more specific nature.
If you have questions for this library and their Friends about how they became a location for Dolly's Imagination Library, email them at friends [at] lindenpl [dot] org. Or, reach out to them via their Facebook page here. They understand the entire process and can help you reach out and join team Dolly at your library.
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