Babies and Toddlers

My First Bookshelf

In partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

We’re sending free books to families in the community.

We want to help fill your child’s home bookshelf and encourage your whole family’s love of reading. With the My First Bookshelf program, children from birth to age five receive a free, personalized book every month that they get to keep.

Like a monthly subscription box, your child experiences the fun of receiving a new book every month, chosen just for them and their stage of life — at no cost to you. Let's help your child get excited about books!

How to Register

We are currently piloting My First Bookshelf in select Calgary communities. Eligible families will be identified by postal code. If you have children from birth to age five and are interested in participating in this program, please register below or speak with staff at your local Library.

A Library membership is not required to register. Library memberships are free for every member of your household. You can sign up online and use your membership to borrow books, access free programs, use digital resources, and more.

How it Works

Every month, we send one age-appropriate book to your family’s house by mail. Each book is personalized with your child’s name and is selected by experts to meet your child’s development needs.

Every child within a family who falls within the birth to five age group may participate and receive their own book each month. There is no limit on how many children can participate per family.

Your child will graduate from the program once they turn five years old and will no longer receive monthly books.

The My First Bookshelf pilot is made possible thanks to the Calgary Foundation, Canada Life, The Dollywood Foundation of Canada, Leah & Ernie Hagel, J K L MacLachlan Family Fund, Barbara Killick, the McNamara Family, Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown, Rotary Club of Calgary East, Rotary Partners of Calgary at Stampede
Park, and donors of the Calgary Public Library Foundation.

The Imagination Library is a free book gifting program. Since 1995, the program has delivered more than 90 million books to children in more than 2,000 communities worldwide. To learn more, visit imaginationlibrary.com/ca.