CAPE ELIZABETH

The Thomas Memorial Library has won a national award from the Public Library Association for developing a program that encourages children to not judge books based on their covers.

The 60-plus members of the "Lonely Books Club" have been checking out award-winning and notable children's books that are seldom read because their covers are worn or they appear outdated, according to the library.

The list of books includes 400 works of children's fiction that have not circulated more than twice in the last five years. More than two-thirds of the books on the Lonely Books list have been read since the program began.

The Public Library Association each year gives out the EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award to a library that serves a population of 10,000 people or less.

The winning library must demonstrate excellent service to its community through overall programming or a special program of "significant accomplishment."

The program, sponsored by the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, began in April of 2007.

Rachel Davis, the children’s librarian who submitted the winning application, will accept the plaque and a $1,000 honorarium at the American Library Association National Conference in Anaheim, Calif. in June.