[PL-Directors] February 2026 update

[CORNELISEN Wendy * SLO]

Hi all,

Today I’m heading to Yachats to celebrate the grand opening of the new public library tomorrow. The day the library opens is always a good day. Given the level of hard work and years of community organizing that went into not just the construction project, but the buy-in of the city government, securing a paid library director position, shifting to a temporary location and now opening this new space, there is much to celebrate!

My thanks to the wonderful team that journeyed to Washington, D.C., this week for National Library Legislative Day! This American Library Association event brought together hundreds of library advocates from across the nation to speak with members of the House and Senate about the importance of libraries and the federal funding we receive, including E-Rate and LSTA dollars. Multnomah County Library Director Annie Lewis, Greater Albany Public Schools District Librarian Jean Gritter, Oregon State University Business Librarian Diana Castillo, and North Plains Library Director Robin Doughty visited six different offices in one day!

Next week, I’ll be in Washington, D.C., for the annual Voices for Libraries federal advocacy event. Hosted by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), we focus on the impact of LSTA dollars and the power of libraries. Baker County Library District Director Perry Stokes and Jackson County Library Services District Trustee Marta Tarantsey and I will be meeting with Oregon’s Senators, Representative Salinas, and Representative Bentz. We’ll be sharing the various ways Oregon libraries utilize the funds from the Library Services Technology Act to serve Oregonians in every corner of the state.

While they are also on our website, here are the links to the 2024 - 2025 LSTA Spending Reports by Congressional District:


     *   Statewide LSTA Spending Across Oregon<https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Documents/LibrarySupport/LSTASpending.pdf>
     *   District 1 LSTA Spending<https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Documents/LibrarySupport/LSTASpendingDistrict1.pdf>
     *   District 2 LSTA Spending<https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Documents/LibrarySupport/LSTASpendingDistrict2.pdf>
     *   District 3 LSTA Spending<https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Documents/LibrarySupport/LSTASpendingDistrict3.pdf>
     *   District 4 LSTA Spending<https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Documents/LibrarySupport/LSTASpendingDistrict4.pdf>
     *   District 5 LSTA Spending<https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Documents/LibrarySupport/LSTASpendingDistrict5.pdf>
     *   District 6 LSTA Spending​<https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Documents/LibrarySupport/LSTASpendingDistrict6.pdf>

Also, the State Library Board has two seats coming open this summer: member of the public in Eastern Oregon, and public library representative in Western Oregon. The application is available here<https://oregon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Boards/details/State-Library-Board---Board-Member_REQ-193071?q=library>, with initial reviews happening March 20. If you have any questions, please let me know.

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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