[AL-Directors] Update: no State Library reductions

[CORNELISEN Wendy * SLO]

Hi all,

The Joint Ways and Means Committee passed HB 5204 this week, which is the overall omnibus budget bill for this short session.

The State Library’s budget was not cut; there are no negative impacts to the Ready to Read program.

Thank you all for your outreach and ongoing support. Your continued advocacy and engagement for libraries made a real difference.

Please let me know what questions you have.


Thanks,



Wendy



Wendy Cornelisen (she, her, hers)

State Librarian

State Library of Oregon

wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov>

Office: 503-378-4367| Mobile 971-375-3992
www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>

________________________________
From: CORNELISEN Wendy * SLO <Wendy.CORNELISEN at slo.oregon.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 7:00 PM
To: Jennifer Keyser via Libs-Or <libs-or at omls.oregon.gov>; Jen Maurer <oasl-all at ola.memberclicks.net>; HANNING Darci C * SLO via TL-Directors <tl-directors at omls.oregon.gov>; Academic Library Directors announcement list (al-directors at omls.oregon.gov) <al-directors at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: State Library reductions list

Hi everyone,

To prepare for the 2026 Legislative Session, Oregon’s Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO) has requested a 5% and 2.5% reduction exercise, for both General Fund and Other Fund Assessment dollars, from every executive branch agency. This is similar to our standard biennial 10% reduction exercise that all agencies are required to complete under Oregon law. These exercises help the Legislature and the Governor’s Office understand the potential impacts of budget decisions and ensure we are prepared for a range of fiscal scenarios.

Monday, I turned in the attached reduction options form. These are options, not yet decisions, for the Legislature when they meet in February 2026 to make choices. The first page is the 5% reduction list, and the second page is the 2.5% reduction list. Column 16 indicates if the reductions are one-time:


  *   Yes means they would only be for current biennium (thru June 2027)
  *   No means these reductions would continue into the future

You’ll see that there are reduction options that would, if selected by the Legislature, impact the Ready to Read grant funds that the State Library provides. We know these funds are important to your libraries and the Oregonians that you serve. The economic impact of R2R dollars is also clear: each $1 in state funds leverages $3.99 in local funds. Read more in the latest Ready to Read report<https://slo.oregon.gov/ld.php?content_id=80200427>.

Ready to Read is the largest percentage of the State Library’s General Fund that does not impact our own personnel costs, and staffing continues to be a high priority. Given the precarity of federal funds at this time, and your own local funding struggles, I know this adds an extra layer of uncertainty. Thank you for your service to Oregon libraries.

Please let me know what questions you have.


Thanks,

Wendy

Wendy Cornelisen (she, her, hers)
State Librarian
State Library of Oregon
wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov>
Office: 503-378-4367| Mobile 971-375-3992
www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>
[Title: State Library of Oregon]


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