Becoming a Prime Time Family Reading Host Site
Participation requires recruitment, program administration, and running weekly sessions. Prime Time Family Reading hosts receive an award of $5,000 - $6,500 to support the planning and implementation of their programs.
The Program
- Prime Time Family Reading takes place in person once a week over six consecutive weeks.
- During each program, families first gather to share a meal together.
- Then a storyteller reads a children’s book and a facilitator helps guide families through a discussion about the story.
- These discussions encourage kids and adults alike to find personal connections to cultural themes and values in the story and talk through big ideas in ways that are uniquely relevant to each community served.
The Partnership
- Host sites work in partnership with NJCH to bring Prime Time Family Reading to their communities, recruiting 15-20 families to participate, dedicating existing staff to the administration of the program, and running the weekly sessions.
- NJCH provides training, assistance with program development, and funding to support program costs, including books, meals, giveaways, program team stipends, and other expense categories.
- For more details, review the Guidelines.
More Information About Prime Time
Application
- This program is open to public libraries and other youth-serving organizations in New Jersey.
- Applications are open for 2027 programs taking place in the spring (March 1-July 30) or fall (September 1-December 30).
- Sites wishing to host their programs in spring 2027 must apply by the October 29 deadline. Sites wishing to host in the fall may apply either by the October 29 or March 31 deadlines.
- Eligible organizations must have an account in our grants administration system in order to apply. Login or set up a new account by clicking "Apply Now" below or at njhumanities.org/portal.
Contact
For questions about this program, please contact Gigi Naglak at gnaglak@njhumanities.org.

