WILTON – In her last years, Margaret Chase Smith spent time working on her library and encouraging young people to serve others and have goals and dreams for themselves.

“She believed in service. She believed no matter how old you are, you can make your community a better place” David Richards of the Margaret Chase Smith Library told a group of fifth- and sixth-grade girls and their mentors at Academy Hill School on Wednesday.

Red roses in honor of Smith adorned each table as the girls and their mentors, members of Girls Talk, gathered for their monthly meal and book discussion. The night was their one dress-up special meal, said school librarian Jody Cook, who leads the group along with Lucinda Drechsler, a fifth-grade teacher at the school.

A literature-based group, the 36 girls and their volunteer mentors had just read Maine author Lynn Plourde’s “Margaret Chase Smith, A Woman for President.” Plourde was also there to discuss her book and Smith, as was Richards.

Now in it’s fourth year, members of Girls Talk read five books together, books that usually have a strong female role model included in the story, Cook said.

Mentors include volunteers from the community and students from the University of Maine at Farmington who discuss what they’ve read with the girls. Fun activities are included, offering opportunities for the girls to develop a bond with their mentors.

Guidance counselor Carol Tucker started the program encouraging teachers to participate and now they love it with most volunteers logging more than 100 hours a year, she said.

A similar program, Teen Voices, was later started at the Middle School but uses mentors from UMF.

“It costs the girls nothing. Grants help purchase copies of the books and we fundraise for the costs of food. Katie Hallman does all our cooking,” Cook said.

When Richards asked the girls what they remembered about Smith, they said how she was a powerful woman, good sister, not afraid to stand up and speak, and who paved the way for other women in Congress.

“She believed as a leader, you do what you believe in your heart is the right thing to do,” he told the girls. It kept her in Congress for 30 years.

In her library sits a book, “The Little Engine That Could.” It’s there for two reasons, he told the girls. Two things that Smith wanted to encourage young people to do: When people are in need, help them, and be determined to reach your goal.