In 2011, Teresa Blum, principal of the Highland Elementary School, came to library director, Tomi Herold, with the idea to partner to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Highland County children. Herold was aware of the early literacy program, but knew the library couldn’t support it alone. Herold volunteered for the library to do the administrative work to provide the service and both organizations split the cost 50/50. The funds provided by the school come from their earnings for the maple pancake dinners at the Maple Festival. The early literacy program provides a free book each month by mail for children from birth to their fifth birthday. Today Dolly Parton's Imagination in Highland County is serving 36 children and has graduated 158. Highland County has the highest participation percentage in Virginia.
