Dear Family,

Welcome to 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten!

The Columbia-Marion County Public Library offers this reading program to families with children ages  0-5 to encourage them to read to their children. Participation is easy! Just register for free and then keep track of all the books you read to your child. Every book you read goes toward earning your child free books to keep at home. By agreeing to participate, you have received a book bag containing your first free book!

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Is there any cost for the program? No, the program is completely FREE!

2. How old should my child be to participate? You can enroll your child as soon as they are born, and they can participate as long as they have not attended five-year old Kindergarten. (For children older than 5, check out the Library’s Summer and Winter Reading programs. We even have a Read-to-the-Bump program for expectant mothers!)

3. Is there a limit to how many books my child can earn? Our Library rewards readers for every 25 books they read with a paperback or board book (your preference depending on your child’s age) and a hardback books for reaching each 100 book goal. Since the program goal is to read 1,000 books, your child could earn up to 50 free books!

4. Is there any point in enrolling my child if they don’t have time to complete the entire 1,000 book goal? Any and all reading with your child is important. Participate at your own pace and complete what you can of the program. The value will come from strengthening your child’s reading comprehension and vocabulary skills, as well as getting them excited about books and reading.

5. How do I report my child’s reading? The Library provides paper reading records. Simply mark a circle for each book read and return them to the Library in person to claim your free books. Or download the Reader Zone app and create a free account to track your child’s reading digitally (Columbia code: 54bda).

1000 Books
Before
Kindergarten