[Libs-Or] SLO Staff - Prioritization & Retention

[Jane Littlefield]

Adding my voice to the list of library professionals advocating for prioritizing the retention of -- and/or the reallocation of alternative funding sources to retain -- State Library of Oregon (SLO) staff. My voice is also that of an Oregon resident and taxpayer and product of Oregon public schools.

I am grateful to Roxanne and to Star for sharing their wisdom, and for everyone who is chiming in. Yes to all your words about it being the staff, the workers, who make libraries sources of empowerment, safety, expertise, inclusion, values, community. You say so well all the things and feelings I don't know how to put into words.

As a library worker and a human being with feelings, the SLO-provided service I have found most invaluable in 2025 is not a tool or a grant. It's an informal virtual meetup, facilitated by an amazing SLO staffer, where I can be in a supportive and safe community with peers from across the state. Without staff, this critical service wouldn't exist.

I've read the updates from State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen but I didn't realize what has been implicitly missing for me from those communications: layoffs. I recognize I was making a lot of assumptions because I had not seen that word.

Rather than making assumptions, I'll respectfully ask: Is the State Library prioritizing retaining all of your staff? How? What alternative funding exists in case the IMLS/LSTA funds are yanked? What funds can be reallocated? How can we help?

Libraries are trusted partners for our communities. The State Library of Oregon is my trusted professional partner -- because of the SLO staff and library workers I have had the fortune to connect with and learn from. Being a trusted partner requires dedicated people.

Respectfully and with gratitude, ~Jane L.

--
Jane Littlefield, MLIS, MA
Instruction Librarian
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jane.littlefield at clackamas.edu<mailto:jane.littlefield at clackamas.edu>
503-594-3474
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Clackamas Community College
19600 Molalla Ave.  Oregon City, OR   97045
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