The Gift of Literacy is a six-month long literacy program for 1st grade students in Springfield Public Schools that culminates with a celebration of reading at Lane Community College and the presentation of a new, hardbound book and library card to each 1st grade student.

First grade students are exposed to ten different children’s books in their classrooms during the fall and winter; in addition to reading the books, teachers are encouraged to incorporate them into other classroom activities. Each student then chooses his or her favorite book from those ten. Near the end of the school year, every 1st grade student is brought to Lane Community College for the day to receive their chosen book and library card, read with local community leaders and interact with book characters.