A parallel processing method and apparatus for initializing libraries is disclosed. Libraries for an application are identified, an initialization order for the libraries is determined, and the libraries are initialized in asynchronous stages. The initialization order is determined by forming a library tree of the libraries' references and determining a load order for the references according to the levels of the references in the library tree. The asynchronous stages comprise a loading stage that includes a load queue, a snapping stage that includes a snap queue, and an initializing stage that includes an initialize queue.