<div>I, too, have expressed concern to the OLA board about this decision. As a job seeker, I have found PNLA's resources to be of great benefit. As a youth librarian, I have also not seen a diminishing of requests for YRCA books. I have asked the OLA board to revisit this issue and reconsider their decision. I invite others to let the OLA board know how losing our membership in PNLA will affect Oregon.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Denise Fuller</div>
<div>Chair of Oregon's IRRT</div>
<div><br><br> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 6:24 PM, Samantha Schmehl Hines <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:samhines@gmail.com">samhines@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class="gmail_quote">To the Oregon Library Association and the Members of OLA,<br><br>We are deeply saddened by OLA's recent decision to withdraw from PNLA.<br>
The primary reason cited was the cost of having a representative<br>attend PNLA Board meetings during a temporary economic downturn. But a<br>permanent step was taken, and our great sadness is that we were not<br>involved in the dialogue nor given an opportunity to discuss the<br>
perceived lack of PNLA's value.<br><br>The relationship between OLA and PNLA has historically been vital to<br>both organizations. According to OLA's official history A Journey<br>Through Time, "OLA arose from a meeting held at the annual conference<br>
of PNLA." It should also be noted that it was three librarians from<br>Portland who drafted and signed PNLA's Articles of Incorporation in<br>1955. Before and since that time, Oregon has been a valued partner of<br>
PNLA, and we will miss Oregon's voice at our Board meetings. As we<br>begin our second century of cooperation and promoting libraries in the<br>Northwest region, the PNLA Board still believes that PNLA can make a<br>unique contribution to the Northwest library environment.<br>
<br>The fourth PNLA Leadership Institute takes place in October 2010.<br>Since the first Leadership Institute in 2004, 100 Leads participants<br>have gone back to their libraries, library systems, and library<br>associations equipped with leadership and change management training<br>
to help navigate their libraries through rapidly changing<br>environments. As noted in the OLA decision to leave PNLA, "The LEADS<br>Institute has a good reputation based on feedback from its<br>participants." Six of these individuals have given directly back to<br>
the PNLA Board, and several others have worked on PNLA conference<br>committees over the past five years. Most importantly, LEADS<br>participants have also given back at the local level, which was the<br>original need and inspiration for the PNLA Leadership Institute.<br>
<br>The Young Readers Choice Awards - the oldest children's choice award<br>in North America - maintains a strong following throughout the region.<br>Participation in Oregon was second only to Alberta, and the Oregon<br>
Association of School Libraries has approached PNLA to investigate<br>partnering with us in order to maintain its participation in YRCA. In<br>response to concerns raised from our Provincial partners, YRCA has<br>worked to include greater Canadian content in order to keep Harry<br>
Hartman's vision for YRCA meaningful for children throughout the<br>Northwest.<br><br>Based on the strength of PNLA's past four conferences (including the<br>very successful 2006 conference in Eugene), PNLA is in a healthier<br>
financial position than it has been in the past, and we invested<br>$3,500 back into our State and Provincial conferences in 2009. The<br>upcoming joint WLA/PNLA conference in Victoria looks to be another<br>wonderful professional development opportunity. The session selection<br>
process for the 2010 conference was incredibly competitive, with close<br>to 100 program proposals from around the region. Out of these<br>submissions, 36 of the best proposals have been selected on such<br>relevant themes as management, children's services, and a survey of<br>
collaborative virtual reference models throughout the NW. The sessions<br>include presenters from Multnomah County Library, Tigard, and the<br>Oregon State Library - proof that there is, in Oregon, a desire to<br>contribute to and attend PNLA's annual conference.<br>
<br>Again, we are deeply saddened by OLA's recent decision to sever its<br>relationship with PNLA. A Journey Through Time foreshadows that "state<br>associations would eventually render PNLA obsolete" but notes that<br>
this has not happened because "the need to share resources remains a<br>constant." PNLA will continue to promote libraries and the profession<br>of librarianship throughout the Northwest in the months and years<br>
ahead, and we remain optimistic that the Oregon Library Association<br>may one day revisit its recent decision.<br><br>Sincerely yours,<br><br><br>The PNLA Board.<br>_______________________________________________<br>Libs-Or mailing list<br>
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