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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to make sure you all saw the news that the federal government has passed a 2026 budget that would fund the LSTA Grants to States program at a similar level to this year’s funding. This would cover costs for Answerland at least
through the end of July 2027. Hooray!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to you all for the work you have done on contingency planning for a potential loss of funding. Unfortunately, I do think that work could be useful in the future, as we face an ongoing climate of instability and uncertainty with federal
funds. However, for today, I’m so glad that I will get to keep doing this work with you all! Thank you for your ongoing support of Answerland and the work you all do to provide information access and reference support to Oregonians. Let me know if you have
questions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All the best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Gesse Stark-Smith, MIS (she/her)</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Virtual Reference Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">State Library of Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><u><span style="color:#467886;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:gesse.stark-smith@slo.oregon.gov">gesse.stark-smith@slo.oregon.gov</a></span></u><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> | 971-600-4992<br>
<u><span style="color:#0563C1"><a href="https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.oregon.gov/library/libraries</span></a></span></u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Work Schedule: Mon 11-5, Weds & Thurs 8:30-4</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> </span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="323" height="43" style="width:3.3666in;height:.45in" id="Picture_x0020_527367080" src="cid:image002.png@01DC967A.21D0A290" alt="Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon"></span></a><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> AL-Directors <al-directors-bounces@omls.oregon.gov>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>CORNELISEN Wendy * SLO via AL-Directors<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 4, 2026 1:59 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Jennifer Keyser via Libs-Or <libs-or@omls.oregon.gov>; Jen Maurer <oasl-all@ola.memberclicks.net><br>
<b>Cc:</b> HANNING Darci C * SLO via TL-Directors <tl-directors@omls.oregon.gov>; Public Library Directors announcement list (pl-directors@omls.oregon.gov) <pl-directors@omls.oregon.gov>; Academic Library Directors announcement list (al-directors@omls.oregon.gov)
<al-directors@omls.oregon.gov><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [AL-Directors] LSTA 2026 funding secured!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Last night, the House passed and the president signed the Labor, Health and Human Services Act funding, which includes our favorite federal agency, the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Federal fiscal
year 2026 funding for IMLS includes: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Office of Library Services (LSTA)<o:p></o:p></span></li><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="circle">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Grants to States: $181,400,000 (+$1.4M over 2025)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Native American Library Services: $5,763,000 (level funded)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">National Leadership Grants: $15,287,000 (level funded)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Laura Bush 21<sup>st</sup> Century Librarian: $10,000,000 (level funded)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Total LSTA: $212,450,000 (+$1.4M over 2025)<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Office of Museum Services (Museum Services Act): $42,850,000 (-$12.6M from 2025)
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">African American History & Culture Act (Museum Grants): $6,000,000 (was previously under OMS, level funded)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">National Museum of the American Latino Act (Museum Grants): $6,000,000 (was previously under OMS, level funded)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Research, Analysis, Data Collection: $5,500,000 (-$150,000 from 2025)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Program Administration: $19,000,000 (-$3,650,000 from 2025)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Total IMLS: $291,800,000 (-$3M from 2025)<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">In summary, there’s a small ($1.4M) increase for LSTA, all for Grants to States. The Office of Museum Services and its programs, some of which are no longer under OMS but are under the greater IMLS umbrella,
have been reduced by $600,000. The Office of Research and Evaluation had a small reduction ($150,000) and IMLS Administrations the largest reduction ($3.65M).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">LSTA funds are distributed by state population, and it will be a few more days before we have the updated (expected to be slightly higher) total for Oregon’s LSTA 2026 grant. <i>These are the funds that we
spend in FY2027, starting in July 2026.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">This is a milestone to celebrate!</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> The next step is for the State Library to receive the Award Letter, and then the LSTA Grant Assurances forms will be reviewed
and signed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Please let me know if you have any questions.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="color:black">Thanks,
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="color:black">Wendy <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">Wendy Cornelisen (she, her, hers)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%">State Librarian<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%">State Library of Oregon<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><a href="mailto:wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%">Office: 503-378-4367| Mobile 971-375-3992<br>
<a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.oregon.gov/library</span></a><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="218" height="61" style="width:2.275in;height:.6333in" id="Picture_x0020_27" src="cid:image001.png@01DC95DD.AB267E90" alt="Title: State Library of Oregon"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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