Library
Welcome to the Decatur Library!
Think – Create – Share – Grow
The library works to encourage a love of reading by providing a wide range of diverse texts, putting books into kids’ hands, and recommending what will develop their interests and skills.
Our library provides a safe and welcoming environment; offers programming that encourages students to read widely; and equips learners to ask questions, seek information, evaluate their findings, and communicate their learning in a variety of ways (these last items equate to media literacy).
Using the Seattle Public Library
All students have access to Seattle Public Library’s online collection. Sora and Libby are linked on students’ Clever pages. SORA is an eBook access point for children, and this guide explains how to access it at home. This video explains how to access Seattle Public Library and its other electronic resources.
*9/1/2025 CHANGE * Password for SPL is now last four digits of username.
SORA (all eBooks 😊)
Schoology- Visit grade level Library pages
Summer Reading
Keep reading all summer long! This will reinforce and grow your reading abilities. Here are several resources to help you keep reading!
Reading Lists
- Seattle Public Librarian Erica Delavan’s Book Recommendations
- Eckstein’ s list for our 5th graders who are graduating/ Eckstein library page
- Visit Mercer Island’s Island Books on Mondays for reading and the program the offers free books.
- School Library Journal recommends these inclusive chapter books
- New York Public Library recommendations
- Horn Book recommendations
- HarperCollins recommendations
- Chapter Book recommendations from Indigenous Reads Rising
- New Books from Penguin Random House
Reading Programs
- Third Place Books hs a summer reading program for children!
- Seahawks program (log minutes for prizes, register for a mascot visit)
- University of Washington Dawgs Read can get you a hat, beanie, or backpack
Best of 2024 Lists
Here are some Booklists that may interest you!
- School Library Journal Best Books of 2024
- Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2024
- Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of 24 for Children
- New York Public Library Best Kid’s Books of 2024
- Chicago Public Library Best Books 2024 (scroll down for children’s categories)
- Kirkus Best Middle Grade Books of the Year
- Kirkus Best Picture Books of the Year
Volunteers
The library needs volunteers. Checking in and shelving books, display and shelf maintainance, and GRC groups all depend on more than a part-time librarian can consistently provide. Whether you can come once in a while or volunteer on a more consistent basis,if you would like to help, we would love to have you!
Before volunteering in any school in the district a couple of forms, including a background check, need to be filled out and processed. You can find them here – SPS Volunteer Forms
Please email Jodie Purcell at jpurcell@seattleschools.org to let me know when you are available to help and we will figure something out. Many thanks!
-Jodie