The Library Lowdown
Eugene SD 4J Library Media Services June, 2026
Over the next couple of weeks, as elementary students visit the library, they will have the opportunity to pick out a book of their choice and will bring it home with them in a book bag that includes information about the importance of reading throughout the summer, how families can support students, City of Eugene events, and a Bingo card from the Eugene Public Library.
Reading regularly during the summer months is very important for children. When students take a long break from reading, they can experience what is known as a “summer slide.” This means they may lose some of the reading skills and confidence they worked so hard to build during the school year. Research shows that students who do not read over the summer often return to school needing extra time to catch up.
Thanks to grant money from the Oregon Early Literacy Grant, every elementary student will be able to kick off the summer by reading a book of their choice!
For more great book options, remember all 4J students and teachers have Eugene Public Library cards that provide access to thousands of fabulous books! And Sora, our district digital library collection, provides 24/7 access to engaging, high-interest, diverse ebooks and audiobooks! Connect with your school librarian for information on how to access Sora!
Happy Reading!
OBOB 2026 Titles
Spencer Butte MS Hosts
Each year, Spencer Butte Middle School library hosts an annual Brown Bag Book Swap. Books are donated by students and parents and then organized by genre. We always have leftover books, so these are then set out for the entire student body so they can have some new books to read over the summer!
From Fact-Checking to Fairy Tales at Yujin Gakuen
Over the past couple of weeks, YG's librarian, Ms. Brynne, has been teaching fourth and fifth-grade students about strategies for fact-checking information from the internet. They began by taking an online article and verifying if the information was real, accurate, and from a reliable source. Later on, students had their detective skills put to the test when asked to do research on the elusive Pacific Tree Octopus; never heard of it, look it up! Second and third-grade students practiced comparing original fairy tales with their fractured-fairy-tale counterparts by reading Mo Willems' Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. Kindergarten and first-grade students learned about empathy and compassion while reading, Hey Little Ant, by Hannah and Phillip Hoose.
Design & Discovery at Hé Lín
Ms. Brynne, Librarian at Hé Lín, asked students to show off their creativity and design skills by trying their hand at design challenges. After reading, Christina Katerina and the Box by Patricia Lee Gauch, older students were asked to create their own unique structures using a variety of building materials. Younger students learned about author Eric Carle and his unique illustrations by reading, A House for Hermit Crab and then creating their own collages using painted paper. It was amazing to see these young and innovative minds at work!
Amy Page, Eugene 4J District Teacher Librarian
Email: page_a@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://www.4j.lane.edu/libraries
Location: 200 North Monroe Street, Eugene, OR, USA
Phone: 541-790-7765
Facebook: facebook.com/4jlibrarymediaservices