First Library™ is an early childhood literacy program that promotes reading by providing free books to children of first time mothers and free books plus clothing and educational toys to first time mothers in need.  

The average middle-income child has about 13 books in their home. In low-income neighborhoods, there is only one book for every 300 children.+

Our vision, at First Library, is to provide every first born child a foundation for a lifetime love of reading and library patronage, one book at a time.

First Library, the first and only fully operational affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in New Jersey, gives newborn children of first time parents (regardless of gender, race or income) up to 60 free, brand new, age-appropriate books, until the age of 5, at no cost or financial obligation to their families. All we ask is that they read to them daily and maintain local library patronage.*

First Library is more than a free monthly book program. It’s an incentive and reward program too. 

Beyond the daily reading and monthly library visits, First Library parents can also earn rewards with increased participation to shop for free gifts  at our First Library Book Shop™. 

First Library Book Shop offers first time mothers additional free books during their child's first three years of life, free of charge, through various free reading related activities.

BONUS: First time mothers receive gifts for continued participation.

Newborn children of low-income, first time parents can also participate in First Library's First Library Plus™ program. First Library Plus offers first time mothers in need the monthly First Library book program (or other approved free book programs) plus new clothing and educational toys during their child's first three years of life, free of charge, through its incentive and reward program. 

The program promotes healthy and responsible parenting, and early childhood literacy, book ownership, journaling and library patronage.

Points earned through various free reading related activities can be used to shop for free clothing and toys at our children's shop, First Library Plus Shop™.   

In keeping with the First Library mission of only giving new books, First Library Plus hopes to instill the same sense of pride and joy, and now dignity, in first time mothers in need, by only offering new clothing and toys they have "earned" for their child. 

And by soon making the items (and existing program) available online at the First Library Plus Shop much needed family time and resources can be used elsewhere.

BONUS: First time mothers in need receive gifts for continued participation.

First Library, a New Jersey nonprofit corporation, is funded through personal and corporate sponsorship and coming soon, the proceeds of the sale of new unwanted women and children's clothing and shoes donated on behalf of the participating community's program. 

First Library Plus is supported through the "pay it forward" model. Parents are encouraged to donate their child's new unwanted clothing for the program. Personal and corporate sponsorship is also invited.

We welcome any interested parties to contact us so that we may work together to bring the First Library program to every first born child in New Jersey. As partners, we can help prepare every first born New Jersey child for a lifetime of reading success.

*Yearly Parent Pledge is required for participation in the First Library program. 

Parents are also asked to complete quarterly reading surveys and questionaires.

See Register My Child page for complete details.

+Neuman, S., & Dickinson, D. (Eds.). (2006) Handbook of Early Literacy Research (Vol. 2)

++Harris, Louis. An Assessment of the Impact of First Book’s Northeast Program. January 2003.

 +++National Commission on Reading, 1985