Eligibility Criteria & FAQs

Becoming a First Book member gives you instant, 24/7 access to the First Book Marketplace where you will find incredible 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.

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. You may automatically qualify for First Book membership based on certain criteria other than the percentage of low-income families you serve. Please review our helpful FAQs below to learn more.

If you have any questions or need help with our registration form, please contact our friendly Member Services team at 1-866-READ-NOW or help@firstbook.org.

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 librarians, library staff, and volunteers?
• Can staff at nonprofits and community organizations sign up?
• Can parents sign up for First Book?

• Are employees at for-profit companies eligible for membership?
• 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, providers, and staff working or volunteering in schools or community 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 total percentage and confirm how you calculated your estimate. Additionally, there are several program types that automatically qualify for First Book resources. If you work at or with these schools or programs, you are automatically eligible to become a member and should select the appropriate option in the Program Classification drop down when creating your member account.

• 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 should choose this option in our registration form to automatically qualify for your individual First Book membership. If you're not sure about you're school's Title I status, we recommend you contact your school's administration.
• Auxiliary Program Supporting a Title I School – If you work at an organization or program that specifically supports at least 70 percent students from a Title I or Title I-eligible school (or schools) nearby, please create your account using this Program Classification. Examples include staff at community organizations, rec centers, and afterschool programs.
• Head Start – Educators, providers, and staff at Head Start and Early Head Start programs should create accounts using this Program Classification.
• Library with an E-rate of 90 – Librarians, staff members, or volunteers at libraries that benefit from the universal service Schools and Libraries Program (receiving an E-rate discount of 90 percent for your telecommunications and internet access) should create accounts using this Program Classification.
• Program Serving Students with Disabilities – Educators, staff, and volunteers who provide specific programming in classrooms or programs that support students who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) should create accounts using this Program Classification.
• USDA Food and Nutrition Program – Staff and volunteers at public, private, and non-profit organizations that are beneficiaries of federal nutrition assistance programs (including WIC, SNAP, USDA summer meal sites, and school meals) should create accounts using this Program Classification.
• 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. Staff at these locations should create accounts using this Program Classification.
• Military Family Support Program – Staff, educators, and volunteers at Organizations that operate on a Military base and/or provide services dedicated to supporting military families (for example: Blue Star Families, USO, Veteran's Hospitals, etc.) should create accounts using this Program Classification.
• Indian Education Program – Educators, staff members, and providers working at or with 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), should create accounts using this Program Classification.

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

If you work in a public school, the most likely way you'll 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 specifically support students with disabilities. Please carefully review the auto-qualifying Program Classifications above to see if any options apply to you. Educators at 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 librarians, library staff, and volunteers?

There are many ways librarians, media specialists, and library staff or volunteers can qualify for First Book. If your library has an E-rate of 90, if you have specific programming for students with disabilities, and/or if you work in a Title I-eligible school library (or in a public library that serves 70 percent or more kids and families from Title I-eligible schools nearby), then 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 public or school libraries that serve at least 70 percent low-income children and families can also qualify for First Book. There are multiple ways to estimate your library's low-income percent served, including looking at census data and checking to see if the school district you're located in is Title I-eligible. If you need any assistance or guidance, please contact our friendly Member Services team at 1-866-READ-NOW or help@firstbook.org.

Can staff at nonprofits and community organizations sign up?

First Book works with staff and providers at 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 serve at least 70 percent students from nearby Title I-eligible schools, or organizations serving military families. Please carefully review the auto-qualifying Program Classifications at the top of this page to see if any options apply to you.

Staff at nonprofits and community organizations that serve at least 70 percent of low-income children and families can also qualify for First Book. There are multiple ways to estimate your program's low-income percent served, including looking at census data and checking to see if the school district you're located in is Title I-eligible. 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/librarian/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!

Are employees at for-profit companies eligible for membership?

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

Please Note: Educators or staff representing for-profit companies must complete our online registration form AND provide a brief letter before you can log in and start shopping on 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.).
• 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 individual 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 US First Book Marketplace, we have a sister organization with a separate website for educators and program staff located in Canada. Please visit www.fbmpcanada.org to browse the selection of books and resources available to educators located in Canada 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 or emergency (including 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, the system will prompt you to contact our Member Services team (1-866-READ-NOW or help@firstbook.org) to activate a temporary First Book Marketplace account.