NORWAY – Every student at Guy E. Rowe Elementary School got a free book to read on Monday.

The program was the book swap library’s way of kicking off the second year of its program, said Doris Lynch, the parent who started the initiative.

Tucked away in a former custodial closet at the school, the book swap library has thousands of books for the taking. The only thing volunteers ask is that students bring in a book they no longer want in exchange.

However, because of all the donations the library got, they had enough books to give one to every child to start the year off. Every item in the library is donated, from the books to the bookcases.

The book swap library opens Nov. 3, and is staffed by volunteers every Friday from noon to 3.

The library has a diversity of books, from the kindergarten level to adult books.

“It’s a way for them to get new books,” said teacher Reed Dyer, who works with the library. This year, “we have a lot more books. Students are excited about it.”

Teachers use the library to show kids how to pick out a good book for their own abilities.

“We’re making the room a resource for teachers in any way they want to use it,” Dyer said.

Monday, a picture book about the Albatross was given to students in grades 2, 3 and 4. Students in grade 1 got a book in the Stuart Little series, and kindergarten students got a pop-up book.

Monday, books donated in bulk were given to the younger grades, and students in grades 5 and 6 got to take their pick from the stacks. A group of fifth-graders got really excited about books in the “Goosebumps” series.

“It’s also an opportunity to give kids the power of choice,” Dyer said. “We want to make reading a part of their lives.”

Lynch added, “It’s a good way to get kids excited about books.”