Council celebrates an icon with Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Day proclamation, ‘Dolly Day’ reading, as King County Imagination Library restores service

September 22, 2026

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, with co-sponsorship by Councilmember Rod Dembowski, led the King County Council Tuesday in issuing a proclamation marking Sept. 25 (9/25) as “Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Day” in celebration of the late musician, philanthropist, and cultural icon’s many contributions not just across the nation but right here in King County, particularly her support for children’s literacy programs and promotion of vaccines. The King County Council proclamation comes after Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Washington shared the news last Thursday that it was restoring service to King County through a new partnership with Page Ahead Children’s Literacy program.

“Dolly was a beloved storyteller and performer, philanthropist, and humanitarian—and her positive impacts have been felt right here in King County, through her support for childhood literacy and development of and public trust in vaccines,” Mosqueda said. “Today we celebrate her contributions to culture, literacy, and public health with our Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Day proclamation. I am thankful for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library’s recently announced expansion of books to children across King County, continuing Dolly’s incredible legacy of giving kiddos the tools to build literacy, dream, and learn, and to Seattle King County Public Health for their information and research on vaccines, channeling Dolly’s incredible legacy.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children around the country from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. Parton started it in her home county in Tennessee in 1995 as a tribute to her father, who was unable to read. The program soon expanded nationally and is now active globally in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. In at least one interview, Parton said she would rather be remembered as the “book lady” then as the queen of country music. Mosqueda celebrates Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Washington’s restoration of the book delivery program right here in King County.

“As a lifelong Dolly fan, I’m saddened by her passing but immensely grateful for the life she lived," Dembowski said. "From lyrics written to music sung, her voice, heart and mind enriched our lives, and will continue to do so for years to come. I hope everyone will take time on 9/25 to celebrate and honor the legacy of Dolly Parton.”

Mosqueda will celebrate 9 to 5 Day by attending a children’s story time event and vaccine promotion event from 11 a.m. to noon on 9/25 at the King County Library Tukwila branch, in partnership with the Imagination Library of Washington, King County Library System and Public Health Seattle-King County. The Imagination Library will provide books for King County Library's story time and Public Health will be on site hosting a kid-friendly table with information on the importance of vaccines and where and how to get them, as well as handing out coloring books, crayons, pens and more.

“We’re grateful to the King County Council for honoring Dolly Parton and the incredible legacy she has created through the Imagination Library, said Brooke Fisher-Clark, Executive Director of Imagination Library of Washington. “This recognition celebrates her belief in the power of books to inspire children and families.”

Among her many humanitarian acts, Parton also contributed $1 million toward COVID vaccine research in 2020.