Babies Need Books is a program to provide free board books to babies and toddlers in Tazewell County. It’s never too early to start reading aloud to a little one. It may seem like babies are too little to benefit from books and stories, but babies are like sponges and absorb language. Reading aloud lays the foundation for school success. The more words they hear, the better! Our goal is to ensure that every child in Tazewell County is reading at grade level by the 3rd grade, and this begins in the cradle!

We need your help to sustain this program! Please partner with the library to invest in the future of the children of Tazewell County. For caregivers, sign up your babies and toddlers for a fine-free library card (available through age 17), get a bag of free board books, Read Aloud 20 Minutes a Day, and spread the word about the importance of reading aloud to little ones. For donors, donate new board books to any TCPL location or make a tax-deductible contribution to the Friends of Tazewell County Public Library, earmarked for Babies Need Books. 100% of your donation will go towards board books for kiddos.

Babies Need Books is funded in part by the Institute for Museum and Library Services, Save the Children, the Partners for Education at Berea College, Kentucky. Our partners include: Head Start, The Friends of Tazewell County Public Library, Labor of Love Mission, the First Responders of Tazewell and many, many others.

For more information, please contact Lisa Tyson at ltyson@tcplweb.org, 276.988.2541.