State Library of Oregon

Emergency Messages as of 5:40 PM, Sat. Apr 19

No information currently posted.

Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from State Library of Oregon.

News Release

State Library Board Meeting, 4/23/25 -04/10/25

Salem, OR – The State Library Board will meet from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Eugene, Oregon and online. This is a public meeting; those who would like to attend should contact Susan Westin at susan.westin@slo.oregon.gov. See the agenda below.


Questions or concerns can be addressed to Wendy Cornelisen, State Librarian at 503-378-4367 or wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov. Sign language interpretation will be provided for the public if requested 48 hours before the meeting; notice 72 hours before the meeting is preferred. Handouts of meeting materials may also be requested in an alternate format 72 hours before the meeting. Requests may be made to Susan Westin at susan.westin@slo.oregon.gov.

STATE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
April 23, 2025

Eugene, OR
Greg Williams, Chair
Agenda


9:00 a.m. Approval of the Minutes – January 17 Meeting Williams
9:05 Public Comment**
9:10 Reports of the Board Chair and Members Williams
9:45 Report of the State Librarian Cornelisen
10:00 Budget Report Cornelisen
10:15 IMLS Updates Cornelisen
10:30 Break
10:40 Quarterly Strategic Plan Report Cornelisen
10:45 Quarterly Stats Cornelisen
11:05 Advisory Council Appointments Bruton
11:10 Advisory Council Bylaws Nielsen, Robinson
11:15 Talking Books Library Donation Budget Robinson
11:30 Minimum Conditions Update Nielsen
11:45 Q&A Williams
11:55 Nominating Committee Report Williams
Noon Adjournment Williams


**Any person may address the State Library Board on any topic for up to 3 minutes. The State Library Board does not generally engage in dialog with those making comments but may refer any questions or issues raised to the State Librarian.


NOTE: The times of all agenda items are approximate and subject to change.

 

###

The State Of Oregon Part Of Multi-state Coalition Suing To Stop Dismantling Of Federal Agencies That Support Libraries And Museums -04/08/25

Salem, Ore – The State of Oregon, alongside 19 other states, is seeking a temporary restraining order against the current administration’s March 31, 2025 action placing nearly all Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) staff on administrative leave. The motion is supported by written testimony from Oregon’s State Librarian, Wendy Cornelisen, detailing the effects of the IMLS shutdown on the State Library of Oregon and local libraries in Oregon.

“I know that the impact of this action would cause IMLS to be unable to administer financial programs on which the State Library of Oregon relies and on which it expects to rely in the future, it will cause significant financial harm to the State of Oregon and hamper the State’s efforts to facilitate access to information through providing library services,” Cornelisen said in her testimony.

This action follows from Executive Order 14238, which proposed eliminating the “non-statutory components and functions” of seven federal agencies, including IMLS. The IMLS action threatens $2.6 million in funding that the State Library relies on for a quarter of its annual budget.

Funds from IMLS support a number of critical services used by libraries across Oregon including:

  • Two-thirds of the Library Support and Development Services division staff, who advise and support the 1,600 academic, public school, and special libraries and Tribal Nations around the state. These staff also coordinate the programs listed below.
  • Free access for all Oregonians to electronic articles from magazines, newspapers, academic journals, and more through the Statewide Database Licensing Program.
  • Northwest Digital Heritage, a site that collects over one million digitized photographs, letters, documents, and more from over 250 libraries, museums, and other institutions around the Pacific Northwest.
  • Competitive grant programs for libraries that have funded projects as diverse as bookmobiles, teen internships in libraries, loanable laptops for low-income students, makerspaces, and digital skills training.
  • Statewide and regional programs such as the Oregon Battle of the Books, Oregon School Library Information System (OSLIS), Library2Go, and half of the Sage Library System courier system serving over 75 libraries across 15 counties in Eastern Oregon.
  • Answerland, the state’s 24/7 online chat reference service that connects people with questions to librarians with answers.
  • Free professional development opportunities for library staff, volunteers, and board members.

The above programs and many more are paid in whole or part by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds, statutorily administered by IMLS. The LSTA was enacted by Congress as part of the Museum and Library Services Act in 1996. It includes annual grants to all 50 states through IMLS’s Grants to States program.

In addition to threatening current fiscal year projects, IMLS’s uncertain status means that the State Library is unable to make financial commitments for next fiscal year. The agency has not yet received its FFY 2025 award letter from IMLS. Confirmation of the 2025 award is necessary to fund staff, ongoing services, contracts with vendors, and the 2025 competitive grant cycle that is in process now. Congress authorized FFY 2025 funding for IMLS in continuing resolution HR 1968, which became law on March 15, 2025.

Oregon is joined in the motion for the temporary restraining order by Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The request was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. The State is represented by the Oregon Department of Justice.

For more information, contact State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen at wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov or 503-378-4367.

The Nominating Sub-committee Of The State Library Board Will Meet On Friday, April 4, 2025 -03/31/25

Salem, Ore - The Nominating sub-committee of the State Library Board will meet on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., to consider the slate of officers of the State Library Board for upcoming fiscal year. This is a public meeting; those who would like to attend should contact Wendy Cornelisen at wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov.

Sign language interpretation will be provided for the public if requested 48 hours before the meeting; notice 72 hours before the meeting is preferred. Handouts of meeting materials may also be requested in alternate formats 72 hours before the meeting. Requests may be made to Wendy Cornelisen at wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov.

Oregon's Library Services And Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Council Meeting, 4/7/2025 -03/21/25

Salem, Ore - Oregon’s Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Advisory Council will meet virtually, Monday, April 7, 2025. The online meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. This is a public meeting; those who would like to attend should contact Tamara Ottum (tamara.ottum@slo.oregon.gov, 971-375-3543).

The Council will use this time to conduct general business and review grant applications. Questions or concerns can be addressed to Buzzy Nielsen (buzzy.nielsen@slo.oregon.gov, 971-375-3486).

Sign language interpretation will be provided for the public if requested 48 hours before the meeting; notice 72 hours before the meeting is preferred. Handouts of meeting materials may also be requested in alternate formats 72 hours before the meeting. Requests may be made to Tamara Ottum (tamara.ottum@slo.oregon.gov, 971-375-3543).

 

 

 

LSTA Advisory Council Meeting

Online

April 7, 2025

 

AGENDA

 

10:00 am         Welcome

  •  Approve agenda

10:05 am         Update from the State Librarian

 

10:20 am         General Business

  • Approve minutes from previous meeting
  • Review previous action items
  • Select SDLAC nominees

 

10:35 am         Public Comment (Any person may address the Council on any topic for up to 3 minutes. The Council does not              generally engage in dialog with those making comments but may refer any question or issue raised to the State Librarian.)

 

10:45 am         Discuss Competitive Grant Applications

 

12:30 pm         Lunch Break

 

 1:30 pm          Continue Discussing Competitive Grant Applications

 

 4:45 pm          Wrap Up and Action Item Review

 

 5:00 pm          Adjourn