[Answerland] Update on Answerland Funding and LSTA contingency plans

Wed May 28 11:25:00 PDT 2025

Hi All,

I wanted to share an update about what we currently know about funding for Answerland. I've forwarded the general message that our State Librarian, Wendy Cornelisen, sent to the Libs-OR listserv on Friday on LSTA contingency planning and added details about Answerland funding above her message.

Answerland Funding
Based on our current partial award of 50% of LSTA FY25 funds, the State Library plans to pay for all costs associated with Answerland for the coming fiscal year from July 2025-June 2026. This includes:

  *   LibAnswers software subscription and 24/7 Cooperative support. Our renewal is due in July for the coming fiscal year.

  *   My position as Virtual Reference Coordinator.

Based on our continuing uncertainty about future funding, including the other half of the 2025 LSTA award and any LSTA funds after June of 2026:

  *   We are not currently recruiting Answerland partner libraries. However, we can work on a case-by-case basis with libraries that may have a special situation.

  *   We are not currently recruiting Answerland volunteers, though we may move forward with a few volunteers who are already in the application process.

  *   We are not currently looking at expanding Answerland service offerings.

We are committed to sharing more information as it becomes available, so that partner libraries have as much notice as possible for making any needed service adjustments or contingency plans. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, it is a pleasure to get to collaborate with you all in providing virtual reference services to our communities. Answerland is a great example of how we can pool our resources to support Oregonians in accomplishing their learning and research goals.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. I'm happy to meet with anyone who would like to discuss their specific situation in more detail. We may not have clear answers, but we can work together to plan based on what we currently know.

Thanks for your support of Answerland!

Gesse Stark-Smith, MIS (she/her)
Virtual Reference Coordinator
State Library of Oregon
gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-600-4992
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
Work Schedule: Mon 8-2, Weds & Thurs 8:30-4

[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of CORNELISEN Wendy * SLO via Libs-Or
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2025 5:29 PM
To: libs-or at omls.oregon.gov
Subject: [Libs-Or] LSTA contingency plans

Hi all,

We are actively assessing the ongoing conversations happening around the federal budget, including any potential impact that they would have on Oregon libraries and the services that the State Library provides.

While we hope for the best for our staff and LSTA-funded programs, we also plan for the worst. Over the past few weeks, we have been planning for various LSTA funding scenarios. Below is our plan if we don't receive full LSTA funds in 2025. This is only a contingency plan; we will continue funding all programs and services through June 2026 if we receive full funding for the LSTA 2025 grant. State Library staff positions are funded for FY26 with the partial award.

The plan is based on what we know right now:

  *   All LSTA 2024 funds are in our bank account. They pay for current staff, grants, and programs through July 2025.
  *   We have a 50% partial award of $1.3 million for LSTA 2025, which we'll start spending in July 2025. As it is a reimbursement-based grant, we do not yet have it in our bank account.
  *   We are optimistic we will receive our full $2.6 million LSTA 2025 allocation, especially given the preliminary injunction<https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69844582/60/state-of-rhode-island-v-trump/> issued in Rhode Island et al. v. Trump et. al.
  *   The current administration's proposed 2026 budget does not include LSTA funding, although Congress ultimately determines the budget.
  *   The Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA), which authorizes the LSTA program, expires September 2025.

If the $1.3 million partial award is all we receive, we will:

  *   Prioritize State Library staff. With the partial award, we have funds for payroll through June 2026.
  *   Second, prioritize programs that directly impact daily operations and/or offer direct service to Oregonians: Answerland, Northwest Digital Heritage, Oregon Library Staff Academy (Niche Academy), Oregon School Library Information System (OSLIS; access to everything except statewide databases), and statewide iREAD summer reading access.

Unfortunately, $1.3 million would only be enough to fund those priorities. With partial funding, we also have to do the following:

  *   Pause or restructure the Statewide Database Licensing Program (SDLP) and academic library database subsidies. Besides staff, SDLP is our single largest LSTA expense at $450,000.
  *   Pause issuing 2025 awards for LSTA statewide grants: the Sage Library System courier; Oregon Battle of the Books; Oregon Digital Library Consortium; OLA Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Antiracism Committee (EDIAC) podcast; professional development scholarships from EDIAC; Tribal newspaper and Chemawa document digitization by the University of Oregon; and the Northwest Archivists Native American Collections Roundtable conference scholarships.
  *   Pause some continuing education subscriptions and programs such as PCI Webinars, Lyrasis, Tech-Talk, Infopeople, and Libraries Leading with Equity.

Again, the scenarios above will only be instituted if $1.3 million is all that we receive. If we receive our full 2025 award, we will continue most regular programs and services.

We have made the difficult decision to not issue competitive grant awards in 2025-26, even if we receive our full award. We want to reserve these funds in case MLSA is not reauthorized and/or we do not receive LSTA 2026 funding. We appreciate the time and effort applicants put into their proposals and regret that we are unable to fund them.

These decisions were not made lightly. We are doing our best to provide the best service possible with the available information and funds. Library Support staff will provide further information specific to individual programs (e.g. Answerland, LSTA statewide grants, etc.) next week.

LSTA funding is not the only source of funding for the State Library. Another is Oregon's General Fund. The Oregon Legislature currently is considering our 2025-27 budget bill<https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB5017>, which was passed by the Ways and Means Committee this morning. As the close of the legislative session draws near, opportunities are scarce to pursue alternate funding through that process. However, the State Library will continue to work with the Oregon Library Association and others to support any efforts to ensure that our incredible staff, programs, and services continue.

Thank you again for your support.  Please let me know if there are any questions or concerns.

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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