Book Donation Boosts Peabody Classroom Library Diversity

PEABODY, MA — A book donation designed to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in Peabody elementary school classrooms was recently made by the Rotary Club of Peabody.

The Rotary said it donated 672 books through a matching grant of $3,000 that allowed for the purchase of $6,000 worth of books for second and third-grade classrooms.

The books were purchased with input from teachers and a club member who is a professional library. The selections were made with a focus on representing children from traditionally underrepresented and/or marginalized races, ethnicities, backgrounds, economic circumstances, religions and abilities.

"Students will have daily access to books featuring a diverse array of children discovering commonalities in everyday situations of the challenges and joys of childhood, while also
celebrating the value and importance of unique, cultural and community identities," The Rotary Club said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)