first Library®
A Dolly PaRTON’s Imagination LIBRARY AFFILIATE
we don't just give, we engage!
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Most First Library® Program
Most First Library® Program
Free books plus new educational toys and clothing for first time mothers in need.
EFFECTIVE 03/01/2020
NO NEW MOST FIRST LIBRARY REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
EFFECTIVE 03/01/2020
NO NEW MOST FIRST LIBRARY REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Most First Library® gives first time mothers in need new books plus new educational toys and clothing throughout their child's first three years of life, through our incentive and reward program, while promoting healthy and responsible parenting, and early childhood literacy, journaling, and library patronage.*
Rewards points can be earned through various free reading related activities and can be used to shop our online children's shop, Most First Library® Shop, for additional free books, toys and clothing.**
All we ask is that they read to their child daily, keep a reading journal and maintain local library patronage while in the program.***
Newborn children of low-income, first time parents must also participate in the First Library or another approved free book program.+
Program subject to change without notice.
+Where available.
REQUIREMENTS
- It is the mother's first child.
- The mother has a child under one year old.
- The mother is able to commit to the program for three years.
- The mother is currently enrolled in Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP, TANF, WIC or has extreme financial need.
- The mother is enrolled in a participating service organization program.
*Proof of first time birth (doctor's note) is required for participation in the program.
**Items may be picked up at our office or shipped for an additional fee.
***All program participants are required to perform reading related activities and complete and return reading surveys and parent questionnaires.
Please fill out the registration form below to be considered for the First Library Plus program in your community.
AND
Fill out and submit Most First Library’s Parent Pledge - Year One below and have your participating service organization submit a referral.
First Library Plus™ gives first time mothers in need books plus new clothing and educational toys throughout their child's first three years of life (and sometimes before), free of charge, through our incentive and reward program, while promoting healthy and responsible parenting, and early childhood literacy, journaling, and library patronage.*
Rewards points can be earned through various free reading related activities and can be used to shop our (soon to open) online children's shop, First Library Plus Shop, for toys and clothing.**
All we ask is that they read to their child daily, keep a reading journal and maintain local library patronage while in the program.***
Newborn children of low-income, first time parents can also participate in the First Library or another approved free book program.+
Please fill out the form below to be considered for the First Library Plus program in your community.
*Proof of first time birth, i.e. doctor's note, and local library patronage are required for participation in the program.
**Items may be picked up at our office or shipped for an additional fee.
***ALL program participants are required to perform reading related activities and complete and return reading surveys and parent questionnaires.
+If available.
REQUIREMENTS
- It is the mother's first child.
- The mother is less than 24 weeks pregnant or has a child under one year old.
- The mother is able to commit to the program for three years.
- The mother is currently enrolled in Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP, TANF, WIC or has extreme financial need.
- The mother is enrolled in a participating service organization program.
First Library Plus is currently available in parts of Essex, Morris, and Union Counties, NJ.
Parents interested in having the First Library Plus program in their community should fill out a First Library Plus Request form.
When sufficient interest and funding is shown, First Library Plus will bring the program to your community. Program subject to change at any time.
First Time Mother
First Time Mother
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New Book
Monthly
New Book
Monthly
Reading Aloud Daily
Reading Aloud Daily
Daily Reading Journal
Daily Reading Journal
Monthly Library Visits
Monthly Library Visits
Most Books
Most Books
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New Educational Toys
New Educational Toys
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New Clothing
New Clothing
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Please call us for a free quote
Please call us for a free quote
Of all parent-child activities, reading aloud provides the richest exposure to language, so promotion of reading aloud, especially for children from more disadvantaged backgrounds, holds great promise for strengthening school readiness and laying a strong foundation for future educational success.
Reach Out and Read, Archives of Disease in Childhood, Reading Aloud to Children: The Evidence, 2008.
Of all parent-child activities, reading aloud provides the richest exposure to language, so promotion of reading aloud, especially for children from more disadvantaged backgrounds, holds great promise for strengthening school readiness and laying a strong foundation for future educational success.
Reach Out and Read, Archives of Disease in Childhood, Reading Aloud to Children: The Evidence, 2008.
What our first time fathers are saying.
What our first time fathers are saying.
It was a pleasure dealing with Catherine today. I think what you're doing here is great. Its nice to know there are still people that are willing to help those in need. Thanks.
Alberto C
Why Our Mission Grew
Why Our Mission Grew
Sometimes a book a month is not enough. But maybe a more books plus new educational toys and clothing with guidance might be.
Becoming a (first time) mother can be hard. Being a first time mother raising a child in poverty can be overwhelming.
Growing up the ninth and youngest child of a young widow, funds were scarce and books were even scarcer.
Even though we lived three blocks from the local library I rarely went there (with my mother and/or siblings) unless it was through the nearby school.
In fact, I was one of the 61% of children from low income families that did not have any age appropriate books in the home during their childhood.
And I only began to regularly visit the library and purchase books after I started working as a young adult.
When I married, I decided to break the pattern set in my home growing up and make books and the use of the library a constant and permanent part of my, and my future children's, life.
As I prepared for the birth of my first child I attended parenting classes and regularly read early childhood development educational books; most borrowed from the library.
During my pregnancy and after the birth of my first child, I read aloud to him daily. I also took him regularly, starting at birth, to bookstores and the library. A practice I continued with my subsequent children.
Today, he and my other three children are voracious readers with extensive home libraries.
Throughout their preschool years I also gave them educational, non battery-operated toys to expand their imaginations and develop their fine motor skills.
I thought if the practices I had introduced during their childhood, (the early introduction of reading aloud daily (and before birth), continued exposure to literature, book ownership and library patronage, the usage of educational toys plus healthy parenting), had benefited my children so greatly, was there a way could I offer such a program to first time mothers, many in need?
I, once again, began researching ways to implement such the program on a larger scale (for first time mothers in need only) and discovered Prevent Child Abuse America and Nurse Family Partnership. Their (and others) home visiting programs are especially designed for expectant and/or new parents (NFP is for first time mothers only) and are designed to teach them healthy parenting skills and ways to nurture their child's literacy skills.
I created Most First Library (formerly First Baby) and the Most First Library Shop and later Most First Library Too Shop to compliment these existing programs. It would expand on the model of the First Library program with the focus on first time mothers in need only.
Most First Library is designed to help first time mothers in need bring the love of reading and library patronage into their child's home at birth and to help them learn the importance of early childhood development, healthy parenting and, especially, reading.
Catherine
What our customers are saying
What our customers are saying
“
Thank you for the winter clothes for our son it is much appreciated!
Daniele I.
”