[Libs-Or] OLA's response to State Librarian dismissal

Tue Mar 13 16:54:12 PDT 2018

Our OLA president Buzzy summed up so well in his message what I felt when I heard about Mary Kay’s not being reappointed. While we all may feel and take this personally, I feel most of all my thoughts are with Mary Kay at this time and I look forward to seeing her at the spring OLA conference. I appreciate Buzzy’s well written letter to the governor and appreciate his leadership through this time. 
Sincerely,
Esther Moberg 
OLA vice president

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 13, 2018, at 4:44 PM, Baars, Bill <bbaars at ci.oswego.or.us> wrote:
> 
> I second Mo’s comment. This letter is, indeed, excellent. I think that many of us would like to express our support for MaryKay and respond to this action. Please keep us posted as to how we can – collectively or separately - make our voices heard.
> Bill
>  
>  
> Bill Baars, Library Director
> <image003.png>
> 503.697.6584
> bbaars at ci.oswego.or.us
> 706 Fourth Street
> Lake Oswego OR 97034
>  
> From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Maureen Cole
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 4:38 PM
> To: Buzzy Nielsen, OLA President <olapresident at olaweb.org>; libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
> Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] OLA's response to State Librarian dismissal
>  
> Thank you so much, Buzzy, for the information explaining what we all just learned about. The letter to the governor is excellent and recounts many of the reasons why we love MaryKay. I’m still in a state of shock that this happened and happened without any contact with the library community. Where’s that transparency we in government strive for?
>  
> Thanks for sending the link to the governor. I’ll be voicing my opinion.
>  
> MaryKay, you rock and I love you! State Library Staff, you’re awesome and hang in there!
>  
> Mo
>  
>  
> Maureen Cole
> mcole at orcity.org
> Library Director
> Oregon City Public Library
> 606 John Adams St.
> Oregon City, Oregon 97045
> 503-657-8269 ext. 1010
> 503-657-3702 fax 
> Website: www.orcity.org/library
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>  
>  
> From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Buzzy Nielsen, OLA President
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 4:25 PM
> To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
> Subject: [Libs-Or] OLA's response to State Librarian dismissal
>  
> Oregon librarian community:
>  
> You likely have seen State Librarian MaryKay Dahlgreen's note to all of us. If not, then I will be the bearer of her bad news: it is with great sorrow and confusion that I tell you that Governor Kate Brown's office is dismissing State Librarian MaryKay Dahlgreen.
>  
> This decision came as just as much of a shock to OLA as I imagine that it comes to you. OLA was not consulted in this decision, nor were several other stakeholders served by the State Library. Even the State Library Board, the entity that was statutorily-created to advise the Governor's Office on State Library matters, was not consulted.
>  
> Some background: a few years ago, legislation was adopted that moved the State Librarian position from being appointed directly by the State Library Board to being appointed by the Governor. At the time, OLA backed this measure because we felt that it would put the State Librarian position on par with other state executive department heads and provide an additional layer of accountability. Obviously, these recent events bring our previous support into question.
>  
> This February, MaryKay was scheduled for a reappointment hearing during the short legislative session. Her name was withdrawn the day of the hearing with no comment. OLA Legislative Committee Chair Abigail Elder and I had been working with OLA's lobbyist, Amanda Dalton, to discover why. We assumed that the hearing was merely being delayed. We were wrong.
>  
> Needless to say, this decision is disturbing. OLA has expressed our displeasure to the Governor's office. That letter that is attached to this message. We are working with our lobbyist Amanda Dalton and other officials gather more information about why this decision was made, immediate succession plans for the State Library, and how the Oregon library community will be involved in future decisions regarding the State Library and Librarian. I will share any further relevant information as it becomes  available.
>  
> In the meanwhile, please spare some thoughts for MaryKay and the staff of the State Library. While MaryKay does not want for us to fight to get her job back, you are welcome to contact the Governor's Office to express how you feel about MaryKay's dismissal and how they made the decision. I encourage you to read the attached letter before doing so for background information. The Governor's Office can be reached at 503-378-4582 or on this web page:
> http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx
>  
> If you have any questions, I will try to answer them as best I can. Right now, I wish all of the support that we can give to the State Library staff and MaryKay.
>  
> Sincerely,
> Buzzy Nielsen
>  
> --
> OLA President, 2017-18
> olapresident at olaweb.org
> 971-270-0527
> 
> You want weapons? We're in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself! ~The Doctor
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