In BriefDolly Parton's Imagination Library has delivered more than two million books across Australia.But those in regional areas say more financial help is needed to keep the initiative alive.In the regional city of Tamworth, more than 3,000 children are reading more books because of Dolly Parton — a mark of Australia's connection to the legendary country singer, actor and philanthropist that runs deeper than one might initially think.Parton died on Wednesday morning at 80. Tributes have poured in from around the world, but in the regional NSW town of Tamworth, the loss is more personal.The city, dubbed the country music capital of Australia, holds an official sister-city bond with Parton's adopted hometown of Nashville and hosted Parton herself on her last Australian tour in 2014."It's an incredible nod to us that she would come here when most stars are looking for the big 70,000-seater auditoriums, whereas ours is 5,000 seats," Cheryl Brown, from the Tamworth Country Music Festival, told SBS News."So for her to come here, she certainly validated us as the country music capital and that saw us being an important part of country music here in Australia."News that makes senseYour trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.Dolly Parton's Imagination Library delivered more than 300 million books to children since it started 31 years ago. Source: Getty / NBC/Katherine BomboyBut it's her gift of the Imagination Library program, one of Parton's most personal philanthropic projects, that has really transformed Tamworth.Founded in 1995 as a tribute to her illiterate father, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a free book-gifting program — now running across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, and Australia — that mails new, age-appropriate books to children from birth until they turn 5, completely free of charge.It has gifted more than 300 million books to children since it started 31 years ago. In Australia, more than two million of those books have been delivered to 151,000 children across 480 communities since its launch here in 2013.Dolly's 'gold star' pupilIn Tamworth, where the program has run since 2019, its ambassador Lisa Rennie says it has fundamentally changed how children relate to reading and literacy."Children from birth to the age of five are eligible to receive the books, which are chosen by qualified speech pathologists and early literacy teachers," Rennie told SBS News. "There are currently about 3,500 children on average on the program in the Tamworth region."Since 2019, more than 98 per cent of children born in Tamworth have been enrolled."We've been classed the gold star program," Rennie said.Families sign up at no cost, ensuring accessibility for those experiencing disadvantage — books are posted to each home each month, and caregivers are also given reading guidance sheets to help foster lifelong reading in families.Research from United Way Australia, which delivers the program in Australia, found children involved in the program in Tamworth were being read to more often, for longer, and had more books in the home than the average Australian child.The Imagination Library has transformed Tamworth's literacy, with 98 per cent of children born there being enrolled in the program. Source: Supplied / Tamworth Regional CouncilThey were also significantly more likely to demonstrate emerging literacy skills, with Rennie expecting that, as graduates of the program enter primary school, they will show an increased level of literacy reflected in NAPLAN results in the region."Children in our region are being read to more often, for longer, and if they're on the program for the full five years, they're receiving a whole library of 60 books that they can cherish," she said."There's more people visiting our local libraries, which is fantastic, which is purely as a result of this program," she adds.Keeping the legacy goingIn lieu of flowers, Parton's family has asked for donations to be made to the Imagination Library.It's a request that carries extra weight in Australia: the Imagination Library is the only program of its kind in the country, and it could sit in a precarious financial position, particularly amid Parton's death.The program operates through a shared funding model with The Dollywood Foundation, Parton's charity organisation, and United Way Australia, which manages and delivers the Australian leg of the program.But the costs of running the program are left to the community."United Way send the books out, but we arrange the funding here locally with fundraisers and sponsorships from local businesses, council, local clubs, and even individuals reach out to give the gift of literacy," Rennie explained.In July, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donated US$2 million ($2.78 million) to the Imagination Library as part of a wider round of wedding-week giving — but that kind of support doesn't necessarily flow through to the grassroots costs faced by groups like Tamworth's.Lisa Rennie is calling for more financial support to keep Dolly Parton's program — and legacy — alive. Source: Supplied / Tamworth Regional CouncilThose costs add up. Each book delivered costs $9 per child per month.In somewhere like Tamworth, that equates to just under $400,000 a year required to keep every eligible child enrolled.Brown says Dolly will "be on the streets of Tamworth forever" as a result of the program."It's a wonderful gift that Dolly has given to us here in Tamworth, and we will certainly endeavour to carry that on forever," she said.Rennie says it's even more important that donations continue to flow through the program following Parton's death."The Tamworth region will be forever grateful for Dolly Parton introducing this program to Australia," Rennie said."But I think now more than ever, this program needs to continue because it'll be in her legacy."We need the financial support to ensure that it does continue."For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.