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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Thank you, Elsa, for your thoughtful leadership!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eva Calcagno, Director</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Washington County Cooperative Library Services</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">(503)846-3233</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.wccls.org">www.wccls.org</a>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces@listsmart.osl.state.or.us]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>OLA President<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 23, 2016 9:34 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> libs-or@listsmart.osl.state.or.us<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Libs-Or] Statement from OLA President re: the election, libraries, and Happy Thanksgiving<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#181818">“In our democratic society, the library stands for hope, for learning, for progress, for literacy, for self-improvement and for civic engagement. The library is a symbol of opportunity,
citizenship, equality, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and hence, is a symbol for democracy itself.”
</span></i><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">Vartan Gregorian</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Dear OLA Community,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">In the days and weeks since the election, (and certainly before), we have seen divided political discourse in our country. Whatever your
political position may be personally, I believe we can acknowledge that deep divides have been exposed in our communities because of the inflammatory rhetoric and contentious campaigning of the last few months. The nation’s presidential election was one of
many decisions in front of voters this November--we also heard their voices in response to local issues, a few of which involved Oregon libraries, as you know. As our mission states, the Oregon Library Association is here to “</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">provide
advocacy, education, leadership and collaboration to continually strengthen Oregon's libraries and the communities we serve.” We will continue to work together to realize this mission.
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Therefore, I think it is appropriate to take a moment to reaffirm and celebrate the core values (</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1oejqPh"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">http://bit.ly/1oejqPh</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">)
that guide us as members of the library community. I also think it is important to say that, as this is the week of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for a professional solidarity with each of you for the values that we share, including honoring diversity, intellectual
freedom, education, and social responsibility. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">A library is a place of welcoming and safety to all members of its community. We feel a strong sense of ethical duty to serve all our patrons
fairly, to help them learn, grow, participate in our programs, and take advantage of the resources we can provide. By doing so, we foster a stronger sense of community and play a valuable role in our cherished democracy.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Thank you for the work you do each day to provide needed support to Oregon communities.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Sincerely,
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Elsa Loftis</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">President, Oregon Library Association 2016-2017</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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