Sep 30 | First Library® Launches Another Free Imagination Library Chapter | Morristown – Patch.com

First Library® (firstlibrary.org) is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its free children’s book program into the Union County community of Springfield with a reception at its offices at 32 Woodland Avenue, Morristown, NJ on Monday, September 30th at 9:00am.

First Library, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, headquartered in Morristown, NJ promotes reading and library patronage by providing free books to the children of first time mothers.

It is currently available in the Middlesex County communities of Carteret, Edison, North Brunswick, Port Reading and Sewaren.

It is also available in Cedar Knolls, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Green Village, Morristown, New Vernon and Whippany in Morris County and the Somerset County community of Basking Ridge.

And it recently opened chapters in Livingston in Essex County and Perrineville in Monmouth County.

The 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, the first and largest 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 brand new, high quality, age-appropriate books, until the age of 5, at no cost or financial obligation to their families. 

Parents are asked to read to their child daily and maintain regular library patronage while participating in the program.

Its More First Library® program, independent of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, offers first time parents (the majority in need) the opportunity to earn additional free books of their choice, delivered through the First Book Marketplace platform, during their child’s first three years of life through various free reading related activities.

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 and additional free books plus new clothing and educational toys during their child’s first three years of life through its incentive and reward program. 

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

First time parents of children born in 2019 living in any of the above mentioned communities can register for any of the programs at firstlibrary.org.

Reception attendees are asked to bring any new ‘unwanted’ women and children’s clothing to donate in support of the program in their community.

Donations may also be mailed to First Library through its new partnership with Wee Give Box, (weegivebox.com).

Wee Give Box, a social enterprise, facilitates the collection of donated new unwanted clothing and shoes to help raise funds for the First Library program of the donor’s choice through their free prepaid shipping label platform.

Reservations for the reception are required. Please email FirstLibrary.org@gmail.com to reserve your place.