Booked for the Evening 2024
Eugene Public Library Foundation's annual event in support of Eugene Public Library, Booked for the Evening, will be held on Saturday, May 4th, at the beautiful downtown Eugene Public Library. This year's event theme is Our Library is out of this World! We anticipate a sold out room of library supporters in attendance! With a nod to the date (May the fourth...be with you), there will be folks making an appearance in Star Wars-themed costumes, with whom there will be fun photo opportunities, along with other activities.
Funds raised at this year's Booked for the Evening will go toward the expansion of the outdoor Children's Courtyard at the downtown library. As the only secured outdoor area attached to the library, the Children's Courtyard provides important access for a host of gross motor play activities that complement offerings inside the building. The expansion would level up this space by offering developmental toys, a covered area to ensure year round use, as well as more room for sitting, playing, and storage of large outdoor toys.
Individuals and sponsors who support this year's event will be making a vital investment in literacy in our community. Free access to welcoming spaces like the Children’s Courtyard will bring children and families into the library creating more pathways to school and life success. Reading at or above grade level by 3rd grade is a key indicator in future academic and professional success. Unfortunately, approximately 50% of Eugene third grade readers read below grade level. Now is the time to create positive change to better serve our youth by supporting public library children's services, programs, and materials which studies show supports statistically higher early reading success at school. In addition, library services may offer the only opportunities for children to develop important school readiness skills that include not just literacy, but also communication, cooperation, problem solving, and more.
Eugene Public Library’s Children’s Staff offer a variety of high quality, evidence-based programs for early learners that are aimed at developing their individual capacity, teaching necessary early literacy skills, and providing information and community for parents and caregivers in supporting their little ones. Please help us to provide this very important opportunity to positively contribute to the development of Eugene youth that will provide a solid foundation for their future success.
Help us reach our goal of $100,000!
