Dolly’s Imagination Library comes to Pinnacle T-Creek as the Little Free Library

  • Ashley Lynch, The Pinnacle at Turkey Creek head of security, checks out what books are in the Little Free Library, a new Pinnacle amenity located in front of Bed Bath & Beyond in The Pinnacle along Parkside Drive. - Tammy Cheek

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has come to The Pinnacle at Turkey Creek.

The Little Free Library box with books from Imagination Library and other donors has been placed in front of Bed Bath and Beyond at The Pinnacle to encourage reading, especially among children.

People can stop by, pick out a book or put in a book.

“Actually, you can go to another Little Library and (return a book),” Pinnacle general manager Darryl Whitehead said. “It feeds the system.”

While most of the books are children’s books, he said there are some adult ones as well.

“It’s worked out very well,” Whitehead said. “As soon as I saw it, I thought, ‘how do we do it?’”

The Little Free Library was an idea Whitehead and his team have been trying to do for a while since he first saw it on one of the greenways years ago.

“I thought ‘what an amazing amenity,’” he said. “I’d love to be able to do that.

“Then our team, knowing we needed books, reached out to Dolly and her company, the Imagination Library, and they were more than happy to participate.”

Whitehead said the Little Free Library is in a temporary location until a refresh is done at the fountain between The Loft and Talbott’s, where the annual Christmas tree lighting is held. (See related story, page 4A). “We’re going to move (the box) into the new fountain area that’s going to be built,” he added. “It’s kind of fun that the Imagination Library (box) was kind of our last thought, and it’s the first thing done.

“We think it’s a beautiful amenity (to the new space) and there should be more of them around the area. It’s such a nice thing to have.”

Whitehead mentioned “a nationwide program of these Little Free Libraries, where people can pick up a book and read or offer to share other books.

“The relationship with the Dolly Parton organization and her Imagination Library was a perfect fit,” he added. “It’s very unique to our area and very unique to our property.”

Whitehead said Imagination Library is supplying books for the Little Free Library.

“It helps in their programming, and it helps our programming. It’s a great relationship,” he added. “Other market places get together with free library systems. It’s just a unique opportunity to work with Dolly. There’s no way we wouldn’t do that.”