Friends of the Mathews Memorial Library is busy getting books into the hands of young children through its Reach Out and Read program.

Reach Out and Read provides pediatricians’ offices with books to give away at well-child visits, said Friends member Jan Towne. Children typically have more than 10 such visits between the ages of six months and five years, so by the time a child reaches school age, he or she owns a number of books. That way, “children don’t have to go without books if the family cannot afford them,” said Towne.

Pediatricians encourage families who receive the books to read aloud together and engage with their infants, toddlers and preschoolers every day, she said.

The Friends organization purchased 535 books in January and is working with local pediatrician Karen Ransone on the project. Since January, Dr. Ransone has given out around 100 books, each containing a sticker noting that the book came from the Friends of the Mathews Memorial Librar...