NORWAY – All Rowe Elementary School Principal George Sincerbeaux has to do is say the book swap library is open.

“When we make that announcement, get out of the way,” he said Friday afternoon. The tiny library – tucked away in a former custodial closet – is jammed with shelves filled with books of all types and reinforces his belief that all children should have access to books. It has been a remarkable way to make that effort work, said Sincerbeaux.

“We created this whole library of donated books. Kids can trade and swap a book once a week,” said Reed Dyer, literacy coach and Title 1 interventionist at the Rowe Elementary School. “It’s another way to get literacy into the hands of our kids. It’s like a bookstore for kids.”

“It’s just huge. Get books in kid’s hands,” Sincerbeaux said as he sat in his office surrounded by books donated by the PTO. Each of the school’s 410 students is given one on his or her birthday along with a birthday card as another way to reinforce literacy.

Chapter books and mysteries seemed to be the most popular Friday afternoon as swarms of children came down to the library, their arms filled with books they want to swap for ones they haven’t read.

“I like chapter books and joke books,” said second-grade student Luke Allen as he browsed through the choices looking for one to take home.

“We have 70-90 kids every week who trade books. None of that would be possible without these parents,” said Dyer.

The parents, who volunteer their time to run the library, include Doris Lynch, who conceived the book-swap idea several years ago in an attempt to ensure that low income students who may have no access to books outside of school be able to get a book to bring home.

“I wanted a way to get books to kids,” she said.

Lynch said parents rose to the challenge and immediately donated books and even shelves to create the library.

“We needed books,” said Lynch. “We sent notes home and had a great response. We asked for volunteers and have had a good response each year. Now it’s becoming a tradition.”

Lynch said the books are divided into grade levels and children are able to swap up to five books at a time. “It’s a little, tiny room with lots of books. It’s exciting for them to find a book they might like.”

The students can keep the books or swap them.

Dyer said the library has been such a success, they are now hoping to find a way to open it several times during the summer.