Every third grade student at the elementary school in Mathews will receive their own copy of “A Student’s Dictionary” this year, thanks to Mathews Memorial Library.

Mathews Library Director Bette Dillehay said in a press release that the goal of the dictionary program, which has been in effect since 2004, is “to assist all students to develop as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers.”

“A dictionary is perhaps the first and most powerful reference tool that a child should own,” she said.

The library’s head of youth services Carol McCormack has made it a tradition to personally present each student with their dictionary, but this year, because of the pandemic, the third grade teachers will be distributing the books instead. Children who are learning virtually may pick up their dictionaries at the school.

The idea for the Dictionary Project began in 1992 when Annie Plummer of Savannah, Georgia, gave 50 dictionaries to children who attended a school close to her h...