first Library®
we don't just give, we engage!
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Free Books for First Born Children
Free Books for First Born Children
Giving the love of reading, one book at a time.
Giving the love of reading, one book at a time.
First Library®
Make your home your child’s first library®.
First Library®
Make your home your child’s first library®.
First Library® is an early childhood literacy nonprofit organization that promotes reading, book ownership and library patronage by providing free books to children of first time mothers.
First Library offers three similar but unique programs, First Library, More First Library, and Most First Library, that are tailored to the efforts and needs of first time mothers.
Our vision, at First Library, is to not only give every first born child a foundation for a lifetime love of reading and library patronage, but to actively engage their parents in the process.
First Library® Program
First Library® Program
The First Library® program, the first and largest affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in New Jersey, gives newborn children of first time parents, regardless of the family’s 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 parents read to their child daily and maintain regular library patronage.*
More First Library® Program
More First Library® Program
First Library is more than a free monthly book program. It’s an incentive and reward program too.
The More First Library® program, an additional program independent of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, offers first time parents, the majority in need, the opportunity to earn points with increased participation (beyond the daily reading and monthly library visits) to shop quarterly for free gifts at our book store, More First Library® Shop.
More First Library is the first and largest direct to home (of first time parents) provider of free books via the First Book Marketplace platform.
The More First Library Shop offers first time mothers, the majority from low-income families, additional free books during their child's first three years of life through various free reading related activities.
BONUS: First time mothers receive gifts for continued participation.
Most First Library® Program
Most First Library® Program
Newborn children of low-income, first time parents can also participate in First Library’s Most First Library® program.
Most First Library, another program independent of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, offers first time mothers in need the monthly First Library book program (or other approved free book programs Imagination Library or PJ Library) and additional free books plus new educational toys and clothing during their child's first three years of life through its incentive and reward program.
The program promotes healthy and responsible parenting, early childhood literacy, book ownership, journaling and library patronage.
Most First Library is the first and only program that provides low-income, first time parents with new books, educational toys and clothing through an online boutique platform.
Points earned through various free reading related activities can be used to shop quarterly for free books, clothing and toys at our children's shop, Most First Library® Shop.
BONUS: First time mothers in need receive gifts for continued participation.
First Born Child
Free Books
Reading Aloud
Reading Aloud
Library Visits
Library Activities
Reading Surveys
Parent Questionnaires
*Yearly parent pledge is required for participation in the First Library program.
Parents are also asked to complete quarterly reading surveys and biannual questionnaires.
See Parent Pledges page for complete details.
Creating a steady stream of new, age-appropriate books has been shown to nearly triple interest in reading within months.+
Creating a steady stream of new, age-appropriate books has been shown to nearly triple interest in reading within months.+
First Library® Donations
First Library® Donations
First Library, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, is funded through personal and corporate sponsorship and coming soon, the proceeds from the sale of new women and children's clothing and shoes donated on behalf of the participating community's program.
Your financial contribution, large or small, will make a meaningful difference to the children we serve.
First Library is 100% privately funded and your contribution to First Library is fully tax-deductible as allowable by law.
We also 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 and beyond for a lifetime of reading success.
2018 Best Social Assistance Program - Chatham
2018 Best Social Assistance Program - Chatham
Rotary Club Selects First Library for its ‘Beds for a Cause’ Service Project
Rotary Club Selects First Library for its ‘Beds for a Cause’ Service Project
2019 GuideStar Bronze Seal of Transparency
2019 GuideStar Bronze Seal of Transparency
MORE CLOTHING
FOR LESS!
MORE CLOTHING
FOR LESS!
MORE BOOKS FOR KIDS!
MORE BOOKS FOR KIDS!
MORE BOOKS FOR KIDS!
MORE BOOKS FOR KIDS!
I like the idea that you are helping first time mothers and their babies while educating them about the importance of reading to them early and consistently. Also, it is a great idea that you are promoting healthy and responsible parenting.
E. A. M.
The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school. ++
The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school. ++
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
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++Harris, Louis. An Assessment of the Impact of First Book’s Northeast Program. January 2003.
+++National Commission on Reading, 1985
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Readyay! (pronounced red-ay) is an online consignment service than raises money for nonprofit free book programs ONLY (40% of the proceeds) with donations made on behalf of the program in donor's town.
First Library celebrated its 5 Year Anniversary with a pledge by Readyay! (readyay.com) Consignment Service to double their regular 5% (of every sale) donation to 10% to the nonprofit free book program in the buyer’s town for a limited time. Visit readyay.com for details.
Please support children, books and reading by patronizing Readyay! (readyay.com).
Thank you.
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First Library is more than a "do good(er)" program, it's a "do better" program.
Its First Library Plus program helps first time mothers in need bring the love of reading and library patronage into their child's life and homes.
Parents can "earn" free books plus clothing and educational toys for their child’s first three years of life through our incentive and reward programs.
Beyond the daily reading and library visits parents can earn rewards for free gifts for the child with increased participation.
Readyay! is proud to double its Yay! More Free Books Initiative 5% (of every sale) donation to 10% for items donated on behalf of the First Library Plus program in the buyer's town.
Readyay!
FROM READERS... FOR READERS... TO READERS.
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Cards for Books is a greeting card company (with a social action mission) that donates a book to the free book program in the buyer's town with the purchase of every card.
Whether it's a "Happy Birthday" card or a “Thank You” card, a book (or its equivalent) will be donated to the free book program in the buyer's town.
FIRST
FIRST
First [furst] - adjective - being before all others
with respect to time, order, rank, importance.
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
Li·brar·y [lahy-brer-ee, -bruh-ree, -bree] noun, plural li·brar·ies - a collection of any materials for study and enjoyment.
®
®
Books for first born children only.
"I thought if one book could bring so much happiness, joy and comfort to just one child, how much could it bring to multiple children?
It was then that I decided to create First Library®."
Catherine Tinger Goldberg
Founder
Catherine Tinger Goldberg
Founder
READyay
READyay
Shop new and like new clothes and help kids get READy for a lifetime of learning @ readyay.com
READyay (pronounce red-ay) is a unique online consignment service that raises money for schools through the sale of gently used better and designer women and children’s clothing donated by parents on behalf of their school.
Schools receive 40% of the proceeds plus READyay donates 5% of every sale to First Library.
Please visit readyay.com and help support First Library.