Cuentecitos

In celebration of the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) national initiative, El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Dia) (Children’s Day/Book Day), First Book is offering librarians the opportunity to receive new bilingual books for free or at deeply discounted prices, to share with the low-income families you serve. Check the Dia Web site, Partners page, at http://www.ala.org/dia.

First Book (www.firstbook.org), is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. Since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 55 million new books to children in need in thousands of communities nationwide. ALSC members and others with whom they work are able to receive new books for free or at deeply discounted prices for the children they serve from three separate First Book programs: First Book Advisory Boards (which grant free books to libraries and other local programs), the First Book National Book Bank (which distributes free books donated by leading publishing houses) and the First Book Marketplace (an online store selling books and educational materials to registered First Book programs for up to 90% off retail prices). Importantly, all decisions regarding book selection are made by individuals at local programs working directly with children served.

How to Connect with First Book:

* Step One: Register with First Book. In order to access resources for free and at reduced prices, you must register your program with First Book. Free online registration takes just a few minutes and will connect your program with all of First Book’s resources for new books. This step is required to receive books from First Book. To register visit: http://register.firstbook.org. You do not need to join the conference call below in order to register.
* Step Two: Join a call to learn more. To learn more about this opportunity, First Book will be hosting an optional conference call on Tuesday, April 22nd from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET focusing on how ALSC members can further take advantage of First Book resources. This call is not required to receive books from First Book, but it will provide helpful information about how ALSC members can obtain books for the children they serve. To register for the call please email Rachael Voorhees at rvoorhees@firstbook.org with the name of your program and city/state in which you are located. This call is free to you and others you might invite.

* Step Three: Tell a friend. We also encourage you to share this information with other librarians, schools, and initiatives in your network serving children from low-income families. Please feel free to forward this information or contact Rachael Voorhees at the email above if you know of an additional network interested in learning more.

SPECIAL RESOURCES: The First Book Marketplace is offering a special collection of materials for El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) on April 30. If you would like to learn more about purchasing deeply discounted Spanish and bilingual books for El día de los niños/El día de los libros, please visit www.firstbook.org/dia.

Attached is additional information about First Book. If you have any questions contact the First Book Help Team at help@firstbook.org or toll-free at 866-READ-NOW (866-732-3669).

For more information on El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Dia) (Children’s Day/Book Day) please contact Linda Mays of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), at: lmays@ala.org or (312) 280-2165.

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