NORWAY – The group of sixth-graders at Rowe Elementary School gazed at the book covers almost as frequently as they stacked and organized the books.
“I love to read,” said Abby Morton, who sorted books Wednesday along with six other students, all members of Future Leaders of America at Rowe Elementary, or FLARE.
A love of reading is what parents and teachers hope will be instilled by the school’s new, permanent book-swap library. “These kinds of initiatives are just another way to celebrate literacy,” literacy teacher Reed Dyer said. “We want to make reading books more than just a part of school.”
The library was started to provide books to low-income Rowe Elementary students and their parents, but all of the school’s students and parents are invited to participate in the program.
The library, currently in a small room at the school, takes donations of new and used books for both students and adults. Students and their parents can swap books at the library for books they bring in.
Low-income students and their parents also are welcome to take books home from the library without a swap.
Dyer said cash donations also are welcome to help buy books and fund improvements. “Our next big challenge is shelving,” he said.
The program had its beginnings late last year when Norway parent Doris Lynch, whose daughter Grace attends third grade at Rowe Elementary, wanted to help low-income students obtain books. She approached Principal George Sincerbeaux, who gives every student a new book on his or her birthday, and the library was born.
“Some kids aren’t so lucky,” said Lynch. “I thought it would be nice to get books into their hands.”
Currently the library has fiction and nonfiction books for students, including ones about animals, sports and other subjects. It also has books suitable for adults, such ones on parenting skills, self-help books and legal thrillers by author John Grisham.
Teachers have donated books to the library, and Lynch said her office co-workers donated books when she told them about the program. The library also may be open during summer months to encourage reading among students when they’re not in school.
Anyone interested in donating books or cash to support the library may contact Dyer at 743-5183.
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