<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 6.5.7654.12">
<TITLE>Books for China Project Update</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Good work, Oregon libraries! The Books for China Project has collected 104 boxes of books to ship to China this coming fall, about</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> 10% of our 1000 box goal. Keep those boxes coming! For instructions on how to get your books to the collection site at the State Library, please see the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">original announcement below.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Richard E. Sapon-White,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Calibri">Chair</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">OLA International Relations Round Table </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">A</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri">nd</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Cataloging Unit</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Head</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">121 The Valley Library</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Oregon State University</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Corvallis, OR 97331-4501</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">541-737-7319 (voice)</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">541-737-8267(fax)</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><A HREF="mailto:Richard.Sapon-White@oregonstate.edu"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U></U></SPAN><U><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></U><U><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Calibri">Richard.Sapon-White@oregonstate.edu</FONT></SPAN></U><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR ALIGN=RIGHT><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT FACE="Palatino">State Library</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR ALIGN=RIGHT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Palatino">250 Winter St. NE</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR ALIGN=RIGHT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Palatino">Salem, OR 97301-3950</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR ALIGN=RIGHT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Palatino">(503) 378-4243</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR ALIGN=RIGHT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Palatino">FAX (503) 588-7119</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR ALIGN=RIGHT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Palatino">TTY (503) 378-4334</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">February 11, 2009</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">Dear Oregon Library Director,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">I would like to invite your library to be part of an exciting goodwill project between Oregon and our sister province of Fujian. We have an opportunity to ship much-needed English language books to China in a special arrangement coordinated by the Oregon State Library and the Oregon Library Association’s International Relations Round Table. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">It is extremely difficult for Chinese libraries to purchase English language books. Without an import license, they cannot buy books directly from overseas sources; they cannot freely convert Chinese Yuan to foreign currency to pay foreign vendors; and the value of Chinese Yuan is many times less than U.S. dollars. Academic libraries in China would like to fill gaps in their collections with American publications, but many titles are out-of-print. Public libraries would like to support English-language learning in children and young adults, yet cannot buy the desired books from overseas. With help from you and the Books-For-China Fund in New York, we can have a positive impact on the situation with very little expense to Oregon libraries. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">Our goal is to fill a shipping container with good condition, quality books in the areas of science and technology, humanities and social sciences (titles older than 5 years in these areas are still okay), and books for children and young adults. Public libraries are encouraged to send fiction materials as well as nonfiction that is not outdated even though it is not considered to be "academic" level material. Books may be gathered from sources other than libraries (personal collections, book sale donations, etc.). Multiple copies are fine, but please do not use this project for advocacy of any particular agenda (political, religious, etc.). Please also understand that Chinese libraries are much more conservative in the materials they collect so we ask that you not donate books that include sexually graphic text or images. Also, please do not send outdated software manuals or materials of an ephemeral nature. The books will be shipped later this year, and distributed to academic and public libraries throughout Fujian.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">The Oregon State Library (OSL) is the Books-for-China collection site. If your library has access to a van or truck, please transport your books to OSL yourself if possible. You may deliver books to OSL Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Please call ahead if you are delivering a large shipment.) For questions about delivering books to OSL, please call Joel Henderson at OSL, 503-378-2814. You may also ship books to:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Times">Oregon State Library</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><BR>
<FONT FACE="Times">Books-for-China Project</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><BR>
<FONT FACE="Times">250 Winter Street NE</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><BR>
<FONT FACE="Times">Salem, OR 97301-3950</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">You may also send small shipments through the Orbis Cascade Alliance Courier. Please limit boxes to 1 cubic foot (such as a 19x15x6 standard Baker & Taylor box) and 35 pounds if shipping via the courier. (If delivering books on your own, boxes may be larger, but please not heavier.) There are also limits on the number of boxes you can ship by the courier, so please contact Teresa Landers, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 541-766-6995 if you want to use this method. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">Please help us reach our goal of sending 1,000 boxes. If every small library in the state sent 4 boxes, every medium-sized library 6 boxes, and large libraries 15 boxes, we would fill the container! </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">Thank you for being part of this exciting international goodwill opportunity.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">Sincerely,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Times">Jim Scheppke</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><BR>
<FONT FACE="Times">State Librarian</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
</BODY>
</HTML>