Eligibility Criteria & FAQs

Becoming a First Book member gives you instant, 24/7 access to the First Book Marketplace where you will find exclusive discounts on thousands of brand-new books and resources. But before you can start shopping, you are required to become a First Book member by answering a few quick questions about your school or program and the community you serve to verify your eligibility. 

The reason First Book can offer the lowest possible prices on the First Book Marketplace is because we aggregate the purchasing power of our unique Network of educators and professionals serving kids in need. First Book has special agreements in place with publishers, vendors, and other partners promising that books and resources provided by First Book are reaching kids in underserved communities. These agreements allow us to offer our members exclusive low-cost pricing in addition to occasional opportunities to receive books and resources for free. The information you provide when you sign up helps us honor our commitments to our generous partners.

Educators, support staff, volunteers, and other professionals working in schools or programs where at least 70 percent of the kids served come from low-income families are eligible (and encouraged!) to sign up with First Book. There are also certain types of schools and programs that automatically qualify for First Book membership (regardless of your low-income percentage served estimate) based on various government programs and other criteria. If you’re not sure if your school or program is eligible, please review our helpful FAQs below.

If you have any questions or need help with our registration form, please feel welcome to contact our friendly Member Services team at 1-866-READ-NOW or help@firstbook.org. There is no limit to the number of educators within a given school or program who can sign up with First Book. We encourage you to spread the word so your colleagues can join too!

First Book Membership Eligibility FAQs

• How do I know if I am eligible to become a member?
• Can I still qualify if my school is not Title I?
• How does eligibility work for libraries?
• Can nonprofits or community organizations sign up?
• Can parents sign up for First Book?

• Can a for-profit company sign up?
• Can I become a member if I'm located in Canada?
• My community was impacted by a natural disaster/emergency. Can I sign up?
• Have a question about our eligibility requirements or need assistance?

How do I know if I am eligible to become a member?

Educators and support staff working in schools or organizations where at least 70 percent of the kids served come from low-income families are eligible to sign up with First Book. When you sign up, we'll ask you to estimate the percent low-income served at your school/program and confirm how you calculated your estimate. However, several types of programs automatically qualify for First Book membership regardless of your percent low-income served estimate. If one of the options below applies to your school or organization, please make the appropriate selection in the Program Classification drop down menu in our registration form when you sign up:

• Title I Eligible School - Public schools where children from low-income families make up at least 40 percent of enrollment are eligible to use funding through the Title I, Part A Program. Please note, some public schools are eligible for Title I but do not receive Title I funds. For example, if your entire school district is eligible for Title I but decision makers choose to direct all funding toward elementary schools (even though the middle and high schools are also eligible). As long as your school is eligible for Title I, you may choose this option in our registration form to automatically qualify for First Book membership. Please contact your school’s administration if you're not sure about your school's Title I status.  
• Auxiliary Program Supporting a Title I School -Organizations or programs that are not officially associated with a Title I eligible school but provide programming that specifically supports students from a Title I eligible school (or schools) nearby. For example, Community organizations, rec centers, afterschool programs, and other groups may choose this option if at least 70 percent of the kids/teens served in your program come from a Title I school.
• Head Start - Head Start and Early Head Start programs that provide free learning and development services to children ages birth to 5 from low-income families. 
• Library with an E-rate of 90 - Beneficiaries of the universal service Schools and Libraries Program (commonly known as "E-rate") that receive a discount of 90 percent for their telecommunications and internet access. The program is intended to ensure that schools and libraries have access to affordable telecommunications and information services.
• Students with Disabilities - Specific programming at schools/organizations that support students who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• USDA Food and Nutrition Program - Public, private, and non-profit partner beneficiaries of federal nutrition assistance programs (including WIC, SNAP and school meals) who help increase food security and reduce hunger by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education.
• Federally Qualified Health Center - A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) is an outpatient clinic that qualifies for specific reimbursement under Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP programs. FQHCs include Health Center Program award recipients and look-alikes as well as certain outpatient clinics associated with tribal organizations.
• Military Family Support Program - Organizations that operate on a Military base and/or provide services dedicated to supporting Military families and/or children. For example, Blue Star Families, USO, Veteran's Hospitals. 
• Indian Education Program - LEAs, Indian Tribes and organizations, post- secondary institutions, and other entities that receive financial and technical assistance under the Indian Education Program of ESEA—as amended by ESSA (Title VI, Part A)—are automatically eligible for First Book membership. If your school or organization meets the special educational and cultural-related academic needs of Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian students, please select this option in our registration form.  

Can I still qualify if my school is not Title I?

If you work in a public school, the most likely way you’ll be able to qualify for First Book membership is if your school is Title I eligible. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, if your school is not eligible for Title I but, in your role, you support Students with Disabilities. Please carefully review the auto-qualifying Program Classifications above to see if any options apply to you. Private, charter, and religious schools are also welcome to sign up with First Book if children from low-income families make up at least 70 percent of enrollment.

How does eligibility work for libraries?

There are many ways librarians, media specialists, and other library staff/volunteers can qualify for First Book. If your library has an E-rate of 90, you have specific programming for Students with Disabilities, you work in a Title I eligible school library (or in a public library that serves kids and families from Title I eligible school nearby), you are automatically eligible to sign up with First Book. Please carefully review the auto-qualifying Program Classifications above to see if any options apply to you.

Staff working in libraries (public, school, Little free libraries, etc.) that serve at least 70% low-income children and families can also qualify for First Book. There are several ways to estimate your library’s low-income percent served including census data, looking to see if the school district you’re located in is Title I, etc.

Can nonprofits and community organizations sign up?

First Book works with many local nonprofits, afterschool programs, civic organizations, health care programs, faith-based programs, museums, and other community groups who offer support to children and families in need. If you work or volunteer at a program like this, there are several ways you can automatically qualify for First Book. For example, summer programs that operate as USDA meal sites, afterschool programs that exclusively serve students from a Title I eligible school nearby, or an organization serving kids in a public/subsidized housing program. Please carefully review the auto-qualifying Program Classifications at the top of this page to see if any options apply to you.

Nonprofits and community organizations that serve greater than 70% of low-income children and families can also qualify for First Book. There are several ways to estimate your program’s low-income percent served, and if you need any assistance or guidance, please contact our friendly Member Services team at 1-866-READ-NOW or help@firstbook.org.

Can parents sign up for First Book?

First Book exclusively works with educators, service providers, and program leaders serving children and families in a professional setting. Parents (and the general public) cannot sign up for First book membership or shop from the First Book Marketplace. However, if your child attends a school or program that may be eligible for First Book, we encourage you to tell your child’s teacher/principal/care provider/etc. about us so they can sign up and access all the benefits of membership. We also encourage you to visit www.firstbook.org to learn more about our mission and other ways you can support our efforts to increase educational equity!

Can a for-profit company sign up?

While First Book primarily serves schools and nonprofit organizations, certain for-profit companies (e.g., for-profit daycare facilities and afterschool programs) are eligible for membership if you serve a population of at least 70% children who come from low-income families (or meet one of our other eligibility requirements).

Please Note: Educators/staff representing for-profit companies must complete our online registration form AND provide a brief letter before you can log in and start shopping the First Book Marketplace. Your letter must include the following information:

• The percentage of kids in need served through your company as well as how you determined this estimate. There are several ways to estimate your company’s low-income percentage served (including free & reduced lunch data, census data, survey data from parents, WIC eligibility requirements, etc.). For more criteria, please visit our Eligibility FAQs page.
•  How you plan to use books and resources purchased or received from First Book. Please keep in mind that First Book mission is to provide books and resources exclusively to educators and other professionals who are working with kids in need.
•  The following statement: “I certify that all the information included in this registration is legal, true, and accurate. I understand that offering false information will immediately invalidate my registration.”
•  Your company’s official letterhead. (if possible)

Once your letter is ready, please send it as an attachment to help@firstbook.org so we can review your information and activate your account (please allow at least 2 business days). If you have any questions regarding First Book’s for-profit registration policies or how to prepare your letter after you’ve completed your registration online, please contact our friendly Member Services team at 1-866-READ-NOW or help@firstbook.org.

Can I become a member if I'm located in Canada?

While only educators and program leaders located in the United States can access the First Book Marketplace, we have a sister organization with a separate website for members located in Canada. Please visit www.fbmpcanada.org to browse the selection of books and resources available to educators located across the border and sign up to become a First Book Canada member for free!

My community was impacted by a natural disaster/emergency. Can I sign up?

Yes! If you would not normally qualify through the eligibility requirements outlined above but your community was recently impacted by a disaster/emergency (events like wildfires, hurricanes, shootings, and other tragic events) First Book is here to help. In step one of our registration form, please select "Disaster Relief (temporary)" in the Program Classification drop down menu to get started. If you do not qualify under normal circumstances, you will be required to contact our Member Services team (1-866-READ-NOW or help@firstbook.org) to activate a temporary First Book Marketplace account for your school/program.