First Book Expands Support for Public Libraries Serving Under-Resourced Communities

Nonprofit offers deep discounts on new books and free educational resources to help eligible libraries strengthen community outreach programming.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON (March 31) – First Book, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to quality education, is expanding its outreach to public libraries serving under-resourced communities. The organization aims to help librarians maximize limited budgets while enhancing programs that support literacy and learning. Through First Book, eligible libraries can access high-quality, brand-new books and educational materials at significantly reduced prices, helping to sustain and grow initiatives such as afterschool programs, book clubs, summer reading programs, and bookmobiles.

As part of this initiative, First Book is connecting with library professionals nationwide, including through its participation in the Public Library Association conference—the largest public library event in the world. The organization is using this platform to share resources and support librarians working in low-income communities. First Book is inviting librarians serving these communities to join its network. Membership is free and provides access to exclusive discounts, curated resources, and ongoing support. To encourage early participation, the first 100 librarians to become new First Book members will receive additional discounts on books already priced 50–90% below retail. The books are intended to support community programming, and are not designed to support shelf-ready circulation inventory.

“We know that public libraries are facing difficult budget challenges – and often times it is the community outreach initiatives that end up getting cut,” said Kelly Griffin, First Book’s Vice President, Nonprofit Partnerships.

Yet these programs are a lifeline for children and families in book deserts. We want to do everything we can to support these programs, with the widest range of high-quality, new books: whether that be books that are laugh-out-loud funny; books about dinosaurs; books about grief and loss; books about different cultures, family structures and experiences, as well as books for all ages. We have all of those books and more!

As part of its mission to expand educational opportunities for children ages 0-18 in low-income communities, First Book works with publishers, negotiating the lowest prices possible and purchasing titles in large quantities. Books are available exclusively to First Book members–teachers, librarians, nonprofits, and programs serving children in need – through the nonprofit’s online site, the First Book Marketplace. The user-friendly site enables members to search for titles by age, language, topic, genre, format, and other criteria. The First Book Marketplace also features current releases from popular, best-selling authors, a wide range of award-winning titles, and a regular selection of books available for under $3.

I work at a public library, and we love First Book,” said Mary A., a First Book member. “We love the selection, especially the diversity of titles so our patrons can see themselves in our books. We love that we can often find books that are $3 and under as well, because we need to get the most for our money that we can.

Since its founding in 1992, First Book has distributed more than 250 million books and resources worth more than $2 billion. In a 2025 Impact survey, 97% of respondents indicated that First Book inspires a love of reading among the kids they serve; and 95% indicated that First Book enables them to foster a culture of reading in children’s homes.

In addition to gaining access to First Book’s professionally curated books, as members of First Book, librarians are also invited to add their voice to inform First Book’s work and gain access to First Book’s educational resources and programming. First Book aggregates the voices and knowledge of adults serving low-income communities nationwide. Through its research arm, First Book Research & Insights, the nonprofit conducts as many as 20 surveys every year to identify the needs of teachers, librarians, community program leaders, volunteers, and the children they serve. First Book then responds with affordable, high-quality books, learning experiences, and a wide range of educational resources.

First Book also recently launched the First Book Community Platform, a digital space providing free educational programming, such as author events, STEM workshops, Q&As with leading experts on issues such as how to recognize and support children dealing with mental health issues, and peer learning opportunities. A recent Community Platform event included a panel discussion with bestselling author Mary Pope Osborne, Penguin Random House Vice President Carmela Iaria, and Dr. Jill Sonke, discussing the decline in reading for pleasure – and strategies to combat the decline.

Librarians attending the Public Library Association conference can stop by First Book’s booth (#210), learn more here and sign up to become a new First Book member here. The first 100 new eligible librarian members will receive information regarding additional discount details.

About First Book

Education transforms lives. First Book is building a world where every child has access to a quality education. It works to remove barriers to education and level the playing field for kids in need. At the heart of its work are the 600,000+ members of the First Book Network, the largest online community of individual educators, professionals and volunteers dedicated to supporting children living in low-income communities across North America. This Network is the key to creating lasting change. Through its research arm, First Book Research & Insights, it conducts studies that aggregate the voices of the Network to identify challenges, needs, and solutions. To address their needs, it provides free and low-cost books, resources and access to leading experts through the First Book Marketplace, which uses aggregated buying power to support their work. Founded in Washington, D.C. in 1992 as a nonprofit social enterprise, First Book is dedicated to eliminating barriers to learning and inspiring young minds. Learn more at firstbook.org and visit the award-winning eCommerce website at fbmarketplace.org.