COMDTINST 5350.5
Book regional and national offices, which provide resources, primarily new books, and support
for LAB activities. First Book has access to new books from several sources. First Book has
negotiated deep discounts, including free shipping, with children's book publishers for the
purchase of children's soft-cover books. These discounts allow for First Book to double its
purchasing power in a unified effort to reach as many at-risk children as possible. Many
publishers also donate a large number of new books to First Book. The First Book organization
has no political or religious affiliation and will not accept or distribute books that are
inconsistent with this status. The First Book national office works with its national partners,
book publishers, and LABs to ensure that books donated for distribution are appropriate for
children.
(3) The new books are primarily distributed to needy children through "book parties." These are
events held at selected local locations where children from recipient groups come in to receive
new books that they can keep for their own. Many times, these book parties include reading to
the children and other activities that promote literacy.
b. Executing the partnership.
(1) This partnership will be most effective if events and opportunities are coordinated and conducted
primarily at the local level through a continuous relationship with a LAB. Coast Guard
involvement with a LAB is the best means of ensuring that workload demands are balanced with
LAB requests for Coast Guard assistance, that unit limitations are understood, that the
partnership is executed consistent with this Instruction, and that the Coast Guard's core values
are preserved through the distribution of appropriate books. Units desiring to participate in an
initial First Book event or to establish a liaison with a LAB should first contact the First Book
national office at (202) 393-1222. Additional information about First Book can be found on
their web site at www.firstbook.org. Units that have established a liaison with a LAB should
continue to work directly with that LAB.
(2) This partnership is structured so that all members of the Coast Guard family can participate and
contribute active duty, reserves, civilian employees, auxiliarists, retirees and family members.
Units should look to all these members of the Coast Guard family as a force multiplier to support
the partnership.
(3) There is no specific template for the types of support units and our personnel may offer First
Book. However, the most common support envisioned includes hosting book parties on board
the unit, participating in other book parties locally, giving unit tours to First Book children, and
providing temporary storage for new books and facilitating the distribution of those books to
First Book children. Subject to certain restrictions, our support for First Book is limited only by
our collective imagination.
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