PEABODY — Picking up a book this summer can help others in need.
A program through the Peabody Institute Library will donate $1 to charity for every tome students in grades six to 12 read between now and the end of August.
The Friends of the Library will be giving up to $300 to the Making a Difference in Peabody Foundation, a charity picked by the library's young adult council.
"They liked that it's helping people in Peabody," said young adult librarian Melissa Rauseo.
It's an idea that resonated with her young readers, she said. They seemed to be better motivated to donate by reading than waiting for an end-of-summer raffle to win key chains or electronics.
The program isn't limited to books from the library, Rauseo said.
"It can be any book that they read," she said. "We just want them to read."
Last year, the children and young adults joined to donate to the Northeast Animal Shelter. The donation was based on the weight of the books read.
This year, the young adults went on their own and eliminated the scales for measuring their books.
"It's very simple," she said. "You read a book. You donate a dollar."
Foundation Executive Director Scott Frasca said he appreciated the help.
"I think it's great any time a library program affects a local charity," said Frasca, a former library trustee.
The timing couldn't be better. He said six local families needed assistance last week with either their mortgage, rent, electricity or food.
"Last week was a really busy week," he said.
Frasca noted that $300 could be put to a number of uses, like two months of rent assistance or past-due electric bills at two homes.
"I'll take that any day," he said. "It has a direct impact on helping somebody immediately."
As of last Wednesday morning, readers had gone through 46 books, according to Rauseo.
Students can register and log their titles at www.readsinma.org/peabody.
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