FIRST LIBRARY®
NEW CLOTHING AND TOYS FOR FIRST TIME MOTHERS IN NEED WITH LIBRARY PATRONAGE.
Impact
Impact before School*
Children under age 6 whose family members read to them 3 days a week:
New Jersey - 42%
First Library - 75%
Impact after School*
Five year-olds who performed better than expected/much better than expected:
Pre-K
First Library graduates - 64%
Nonparticipants - 11%
Kindergarten
First Library graduates - 48%
Nonparticipants - 10%
Impact in High Risk Homes
A 2015 Department of Education, Dollywood Foundation and Parents as Teachers study of children in high risk environments showed a
35% increase in families with 26 or more books in the home
29% increase in children pretending to read books once or more a day
22% increase in family reading books together once or more a day
19% increase in families who own library cards
Childhood Illiteracy**
Fourth grade
Below proficient
New Jersey - 51%
USA - 65%
Eighth grade
Below proficient
New Jersey - 53%
USA - 65%
WHY FIRST LIBRARY?
Children have stronger early reading skills.Children are more prepared for school.Fosters strong speech and vocabulary.Children develop essential life skills.Children begin school with print and book component concepts.Increased parental engagement and reading.Increase in book ownership.Excitement about books and reading.Increase in library patronage.Predictor of future academic success.
Fourth grade reading achievement levels - NJ
Proficiency in reading by the end of third grade is a crucial marker in a child's educational development. In the early years, learning to read is a critical component of education. But beginning in fourth grade, children use reading to learn other subjects, and therefore, mastery of reading becomes a critical component in their ability to keep up academically. Children who reach fourth grade without being able to read proficiently are more likely to drop out of high school, reducing their earnings potential and chances for success.
22%
Below basic
78%
At or above basic
51%
Below proficient
49%
At or above proficient
Eighth grade reading achievement levels - NJ
18%
Below basic
82%
At or above basic
53%