Curriculum Materials Center: 1000 Books Before K Program

Welcome to the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program! This national initiative was adopted by the Library System of Lancaster County in 2015. The Millersville University McNairy Library & Learning Forum has partnered with the public library program to encourage reading with the youngest members of our University community. The goal of the program is to read 1,000 books prior to starting kindergarten. Any child from birth until he or she enters kindergarten is eligible to participate. The program will take anywhere from a few months to a few years as it is entirely self-paced.  You do not have to read 1,000 unique titles. You may repeat books.

How to Participate

• Pick up an informational folder on the 4th floor in McNairy Library.
• Read!
• Keep track of the titles you read on the provided sheets.
• Check in with the program coordinator at your local public library to document your progress every time you complete 100 titles and to pick up the sheets for your next 100 books.

How long does it take to read 1,000 books?

If you read 3 books to your child every day for one year, you will have read 1,095 books!

Read 10 books every week for two years to read 1,040 books! 

You can read 1 book every other day and still reach 1,000 books in less than 5 years.

Millersville University program contact:

Dr. Stephanie Thompson

304 McNairy Library

(717) 871-7122

stephanie.thompson@millersville.edu