I hope you all had the perfect summer for you☀️🏕📖! There are a lot of changes this year with new high school schedules, new curriculum, new leaders, and organization, and I'm sure you're experiencing many different emotions. Truthfully, though change can be difficult, you all have proven to be incredibly resilient, and I'm confident that you are going to rock this school year! Please remember as you prepare lessons throughout the year, I'm here to support you. You can find a menu of library services here. Below is a link to a slide deck with links to resources, library information, and anything else having to do with library services. If there's any other way I can support you, please reach out. If I can't help, I'll find someone who can. I hope the year ahead is rewarding. You're doing incredible work and are so appreciated!

Chavez Elementary Teacher Librarian, Martha Dyer, was awarded Oregon Teacher Librarian of the Year by the Oregon Association for School Librarians this summer! In her first year working at Chavez as a certified librarian, Martha developed relationships with students, teachers, and parents and has made the library an integral part of the school's learning community. Martha has worked tirelessly to develop a library culture in a school that hasn't had a certified teacher-librarian in many years. She was awarded a couple of grants to help diversify and update the library collection so students have access to engaging, high-interest books. Martha taught lessons focused on library and research skills, technology, literature, and digital citizenship and inspired reading in students.

When asked what her focus will be this year, she said, "As the new school year begins, I am most excited about framing the Chavez Library Lessons around the Oregon School Library Standards (information literacy, reading engagement, and social responsibility). Our K-5 students will get opportunities to build skills as digital detectives, researchers, and readers reflecting on the books they choose."

Please join me in congratulating Martha on her success!

Learn about Hispanic Heritage and find resources for students in the resources below.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a special time of the year when we celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of people who come from or have ancestors from Spanish-speaking countries. This month, from September 15th to October 15th, is when we learn about and appreciate the history and achievements of Hispanic and Latino people.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the wonderful tapestry of cultures that make up our world, and we have a lot of fun while doing it! We learn, we dance, we eat delicious food, and we show love and respect for all the people who make our world so special. You can find events happening in our community here.

• EDSITE: K12 lesson plans and resources
• Author Talk: The Unspoken Gift. Learn more here.
• Hispanic Heritage Month Collection in Sora.

Help students learn how to search for and find books in the library. Show them this short tutorial on Destiny Discover, and then provide them time to explore the tool. Students will need to know their 4J usernames and passwords to log in. For elementary students, these can easily be printed out along with their Clever QR codes or separately on Avery labels. Check out Kellyclare Gardner's tutorial on printing usernames and passwords. It's easy peasy! Once students learn to use Destiny Discover, they can bring their devices with them to the library to search the catalog and find books they want to read for their reading pleasure or for research projects. If you would like assistance with this, invite Amy Page to visit and get your students up and running in no time.

Sora is both a website and an app where all students and teachers can access our district's digital library collection. This collection is filled with diverse, engaging, high-interest ebooks and audiobooks that can be accessed 24/7 and are curated throughout the year. You can find the latest and greatest books in this collection, so check back often to see what's new. Bookmark Sora for easy access all the time!

Please support students in accessing this awesome collection. There are books for all levels and interests. There's an incredible comics collection, high-interest diverse books, read-alongs for non-readers, and so much more! The collection is curated into collections so readers can find what they're looking for. Students log in with their 4j username and password. K5 students will need to know this information. Watch this quick tutorial to learn how. Contact Amy Page or Kellyclare Gardner if you need assistance printing 4J usernames and passwords for your students.

Last year, the Assistance League of Eugene (ALE) generously donated $1,000 worth of graphic novels to each of our middle school libraries. It was an incredible gift that filled a gap in each middle school library. This year, the ALE is back with another generous donation of $1,000 to each of our middle schools! Our library team will work to build lists unique to each school's needs with a focus on diversity and filling in gaps in series and the latest releases of high-interest books. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to give each of our middle school libraries a much-needed boost! Thank you ALE!

There is plenty to celebrate in September! From Dot Day on September 15th to Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th - October 15th there are resources to support all your explorations. September 30th is "Be Who You Are Day", a celebration of Todd Parr's awesome work! Have fun exploring the coding and virtual maker space boards, too. You can find it all in the September Choice Board below. Have fun!

All K-12 students and teachers have access to Book Creator. If you're not familiar with Book Creator, it's an incredible tool for showcasing learning, processing, journaling, writing, research, and so much more. It truly is a resource for any content area and all age levels. Look for Library Tech Tidbits in the Library Connection to help you get started, or invite Amy Page to your class to help get the teacher and students up and running in no time.

Common Sense Media released new lessons for middle and high school focused on mental health and well-being. They have new "Device Advice" lessons for elementary kiddos and many other great resources to get students started off smart with technology this year. Check out their Back-to-School Healthy Minds resources here and help our kiddos learn smart technology practices.

It's never been easier for students to access a world of knowledge at the Eugene Public Library.

4J is working with EPL to distribute student library cards to all students, whether they live inside or outside the city limits, allowing students to check out physical books and access digital books, resources, and much, much more! Cards will be distributed later this year.

All students will receive a student library card. If a family does not want their child to receive a student library card, they can submit this online form by Friday, October 20.

The student card allows them to check out five items at a time.

This program is an exciting collaboration between 4J and EPL, which improves the educational experience and fosters a love for learning for our students, as well as strengthens the fabric of our community as a whole.

Good news for back-to-school: elementary through college-level students can get help with homework, studying, and test preparation, online and free with a Eugene Public Library card. All 4J students can get a Eugene Public Library card at no cost, regardless of home address.

The Brainfuse service offers live professional tutoring from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily in English and Spanish. The site also offers 24/7 resources, including a writing lab, skill builders, lessons, study guides, practice tests, and more. Try it: http://bit.ly/EugeneBrainfuse.

They're free to all City of Eugene residents. Plus 4J educators and staff who live outside City limits can get a free card for work use. Wherever you live, to get started, simply call the library at 541-682-5450 for immediate access to online resources including ebooks, online audiobooks, streaming movies, research tools and more. Then follow up in person within 30 days by bringing your school photo ID and your current Oregon driver license/ID (if you don't have one, see other accepted address documents). Or visit in person to sign up all at once: come to the Downtown Library, Bethel Branch or Sheldon Branch with those items and we'll give you your card for full services.

The Eugene Public Library (EPL) has beautiful displays librarians would love to fill with student work. Share the amazing work students create with EPL for our community to enjoy. Contact Chelsi Sayti (CSayti@eugene-or.gov) for more information.

If there is no room at the public library, consider displaying student work in school libraries. Libraries are great places to share the beautiful, creative work teachers inspire in students.

If you would like to visit a place in or around Eugene this year but can't get your class there, I am happy to collaborate with you to take them there virtually. Reach out to me if you have ideas and we'll make a plan.

Email: page_a@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://wakelet.com/@AmyPage5788
Location: 200 North Monroe Street, Eugene, OR, USA
Phone: 541-790-7765
Facebook: facebook.com/4jlibrarymediaservices
Twitter: @AmyPageTL