How It Works
WHEN JEWISH LEADERS, philanthropists, and organizations decide to provide the gift of The PJ Library to families in their area, The PJ Library national home office staff works closely with that local community to bring this turn-key Jewish engagement program to life.
There are now more than 136 PJ Library communities in North America, and the program is growing quickly.
Getting Started
Local leaders and sponsoring organizations (such as Jewish Federations, Jewish community centers, central agencies, synagogues, and individual philanthropists) fulfill participation requirements and ensure that funding is in place. The PJ Library home office then sends out a community-wide mailing with an introductory letter and sample PJ Library book, letting families in the community know about the launch of the program and membership eligibility criteria.
The sponsoring organization in each community contributes $40 per year ($50 in Canada) for each subscription and allocates funds for marketing, programming, and local professional staff.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation underwrites each subscription and all overhead expenses, subsidizing more than 50 percent of the costs of The PJ Library program in each community. In addition, HGF subsidizes the salaries of local program professionals and provides communities with a marketing allowance.
Building Membership
Once families begin enrolling for PJ Library participation, they are then set to begin receiving monthly mailings of Jewish-themed books and music. Within several months, The PJ Library's signature blue-on-white envelopes begin to arrive in the mail, and the journey begins.
Who Can Participate?
The PJ Library is offered in participating communities on a first-come, first-served basis. The PJ Library is open to all families with children ages 6 months to five-and-a-half years.
PLEASE NOTE: Many PJ communities decide to offer the program beyond these ages to families with six-, seven-, and eight-year-olds.
Participation in The PJ Library is not dependent upon a family's Jewish organizational affiliation or level of observance.
Make Your Community a PJ Community
If you live in a place other than those currently served by The PJ Library program, you can help bring the program to your community.