Sharing the Gift of Reading: FulcoLibrary and Dragon Con Honor Dolly Parton

Fulton County Library Honors Dolly Parton's Legacy with a Community Book Drive

When Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, people around the world looked for ways to remember her and celebrate the things she cared about most.

Of course, there was her music. But Dolly was also known for her generosity, her love of storytelling, and her incredible commitment to helping children discover the joy of reading. Her belief in the power of books touched millions of families.

So when members of the Dragon Con community began asking, “What can we do to honor Dolly?” the answer felt pretty natural: give books.

On September 2, Dragon Con partnered with the Fulton County Library System to hold a special book drive during Opening Ceremonies. The goal was simple — collect new books for children and families and continue a part of Dolly’s legacy that meant so much to her!

Why FulcoLibrary?

Dragon Con and the Fulton County Library System already had a connection through the Dragon Awards. The awards celebrate books, comics, movies, television, games, and other forms of genre entertainment, with Dragon Con fans getting the chance to vote for their favorites.

So when Dragon Con fans wanted to do something in Dolly’s honor, the library was a natural partner!

There wasn't much time to plan. The idea came together in less than a week, and everyone knew they had to move quickly. Together, Dragon Con and FulcoLibrary set a goal of collecting 3,000 brand-new books for children ages 2 to 16.

It was a big goal for such a short amount of time, but the community was ready to give it a try.

More Than Just a Donation

One of the most important parts of the book drive was knowing where the books would go.

The donated books will support Fulton County Library System outreach efforts, helping get books directly into the hands of children and families throughout the community.

Library outreach is about meeting people where they are. Sometimes that means bringing books and library resources into neighborhoods, community events, schools, and other places where families already spend their time.

That made this book drive feel especially meaningful. Dolly spent so much of her life making sure children had access to books. The books collected at Dragon Con will continue that work right here in our community!

Dragon Con Fans Went Above and Beyond

Dragon Con has a tradition of kicking off its convention. On Wednesday at midnight, fans gather to count down and celebrate the beginning of the con! It was decided that this would be the best time for fans to bring in their donations.

From 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on September 2, Dragon Con attendees brought new children's books to the collection site during the convention's Opening Ceremonies.

And they brought a lot of them.

The original goal was 3,000 books.

By the end of the night, fans had donated 4,574 books.

That's 1,574 books beyond the original goal.

In just two hours, Dragon Con fans came together to do something pretty incredible. Each book represents another opportunity for a child to discover a new character, get lost in a story, learn something new, or simply find a book they love.

Keeping Dolly’s Love of Reading Going

Dolly Parton had a way of making people feel welcome, and she used her success to help others. Her work with literacy was a huge part of that.

This book drive is one small way to keep that spirit going.

It took Dragon Con fans, volunteers, and Fulton County Library System staff working together — and working quickly — to make the drive happen. What started with a goal of 3,000 books ended with 4,574 new books ready to make their way into the community.

And that's something worth celebrating.

Because at the end of the day, these aren't just 4,574 books sitting on a shelf.

They're 4,574 chances for a child to find a story they love.

A special thank you to Dragon Con and the community for coming together to show unwavering support for the library and to continue Dolly Parton's mission of at-home literacy.