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<!--StartFragment--><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">In
response to the interests of a consortium of funders, The Oregon Community
Foundation (OCF) is supporting a needs and opportunities assessment of Oregon’s
public libraries. The goal of the project is to assist funders in identifying
how best to support public libraries of all sizes as they provide 21<sup>st</sup>century
library services to a diverse public.
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT'; font-size: 12pt;">The
needs assessment will be conducted by Penny Hummel of Penny Hummel Consulting
with support from Portland State University’s Survey Research Lab. Data for
this qualitative analysis will be gathered from January – March 2015 in four
ways:</span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">Eight focus groups with public library
directors around the state:</span></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">February 17: Wilsonville Public Library (10 - 11:30 am) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">February 18: OCF Portland office (2 – 3:30 pm) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">Feb. 23: OCF Medford office (2 – 3:30 pm)<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">Feb. 25: OCF Eugene office (10 – 11:30 pm)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">Feb. 27: Coos Bay Public Library (10 – 11:30 am) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">March 3: OCF Bend office (2 – 3:30 pm)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:
auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">March 5: Newport Public Library (1 – 2:30 pm)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:"Courier New";mso-fareast-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">March 11: Pendleton Public Library: (1 – 2:30 pm) <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">An online survey for public library
directors, library board members, Friends and Foundation trustees and staff and
other interested stakeholders (available in late February- early March) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">Interviews with regional and national
library leaders and other service providers<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">A literature review of best practices <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">This
needs assessment offers a once-in-a generation opportunity for Oregon’s public
libraries to provide comprehensive input about their current and future needs
to the philanthropic community. Public library directors are therefore strongly
encouraged to make their voices known through participating in the survey
and/or focus groups.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">A
report documenting the outcomes of the needs assessment will be presented to The
Oregon Community Foundation in June, 2015 and subsequently shared with the
public. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">In
the weeks to come, additional details about the survey and focus groups will be
provided to public library directors. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">If
you have any questions, or are a public library director and would like to
reserve a space in one of focus groups listed above, contact Penny Hummel at </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><a href="mailto:penny@pennyhummel.com"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">penny@pennyhummel.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT"">
or 503.890.0494. <o:p></o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div apple-content-edited="true">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">Penny Hummel<br>Penny Hummel Consulting<br><a href="http://www.pennyhummel.com">www.pennyhummel.com</a> <br><br>503.890.0494<br><a href="mailto:penny@pennyhummel.com">penny@pennyhummel.com</a><br><br></span>
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