ROSEBURG: The Douglas Education Service District has been awarded a federal Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grant for $299,475.

The grant is designed to enhance libraries in low-income schools. The Douglas ESD was the only recipient in Oregon, and the grant will assist the Elkton, North Douglas, Oakland, South Umpqua, Sutherlin and Yoncalla school districts.

The ESD plans to use the funds to hire a full-time certified media specialist, who will examine and strengthen existing programs. It will also provide professional development for school librarians, upgrade library media center computers and software for students and buy nonfiction books and resources.

The grant targets reading skills for sixth- through 12th-graders, along with information retrieval and critical thinking skills, and the school districts’ use of library resources and technology.