Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a book donation programme, launched in Rotherham in December 2007. The initiative ensured that every child in Rotherham received a free book each month, in their own name, from birth until they turned five years old.
The scheme was partly funded by Parton's foundation and partly by the local authority and other local funders. Deborah Bullivant, who later led the Rotherham Imagination Library, noted that despite initial scepticism, the programme "changed the culture" for many families by fostering a reading environment in their homes.
The Rotherham scheme concluded in 2015 after the council withdrew support. However, the programme expanded to other UK locations, including Doncaster, North Lincolnshire, the London borough of Southwark, and Nottingham. Since its UK launch, 6.3 million books have been distributed to children across the four UK nations.