The Rotary Club of South Portland/Cape Elizabeth has donated $800 to youth literacy programs for two local libraries. The club began this ongoing program in 2007.

The money, $400 to each town library, goes to the South Portland Public Library and to the Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth. It will be used to enhance literacy programs through the purchase of books and materials to promote literacy, reading, and interest in education among young people. Some of the materials will also assist those for whom English is a second language.

The additional books, chosen by the professional librarians at each library, will provide materials they otherwise would not be able to purchase through normal funding.

The Rotary Club also uses this program to recognize its weekly speakers by having them sign a bookplate that goes into one of the books and symbolizes a donation of that book by the speaker.

Rotary Club president Bob Flynn said, “We have been making this donation for seven years with a view toward increasing the interest in reading and education among our local students. It is representative of a Rotary club’s service to its communities and its commitment to literacy initiatives.”