About 86 percent of the donations went to libraries in low- to moderate-income areas, Commerce officials said. In addition to Beverly's library, two other libraries in the tri-county area received the grants -- one in Camden (on Thursday) and one in Pitman (on Monday).

"This is like pennies from heaven," Camden librarian Theresa Gorman said. "It's not every day that somebody calls you and says "We're going to give you money.' "

Gorman said the library will use the money to purchase between 200 and 300 books.

In order to continue receiving state aid, the library must purchase about 8,000 books a year, Gorman said. When unexpected expenses occur, the library has a hard time meeting that goal, Gorman said.

"Prices for books go up, computers get obsolete, salaries go up, things break down," Gorman said. "We only have a certain amount of money. When something happens, we have to reallocate money from other parts of the budget."

Beverly plans to use the money to continue offering programs for children, like the summer reading camp that attracted almost 30 children last year.

"A lot of times, we have to go into our own pocket to do things," said Hall, who runs the library with the help of a handful of volunteers.

Unlike Camden, which recently got a grant that allowed the library to buy six new computers for its Ferry Avenue branch, the Beverly Library has a hard time securing funds.

"We don't qualify for most grants because we don't have enough square footage or parking spaces," library trustee Juliana Feener said. "Even though we're small, we try to offer a lot."

The 1929 building, which also serves Edgewater Park, is a meeting place for the historical society and the Red Hat Society and offers homework help for youngsters after school.

"We're small, but we're cute," said Hall, who has a second job as a sixth-grade teacher in Willingboro. "We have a lot of things to offer."

Pitman will use the money to buy new books, technology resources or to support existing library programs.

This was the first time Commerce offered grants to libraries. The bank, founded in 1973, is being taken over by TD Bank Financial Group.

The grant awards served as the official kickoff to the bank's Summer Reading Program, which has been going on for at least 10 years. The program encourages students to read by contributing $10 into a new or existing account for each child who reads at least 10 books over the summer.

"Unexpected gifts like this bring so much pleasure," Beverly Councilwoman Gail Cook said. "It's such a wonderful thing for the whole community." Reach Lavinia DeCastro at (856) 486-2652 or ldecastro@courierpostonline.com