<div dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Good morning,</span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It’s been a while since you’ve heard from <a href="https://www.olaweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=199">OLA's Library Development & Legislation Committee</a> (LDLC), but things are happening legislatively at the federal level – and </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">we need YOU to act immediately on behalf of libraries across Oregon</span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">!</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">You may recall the</span><a href="https://www.ala.org/advocacy/buildlibraries" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Build Americas Libraries Act</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (BALA): Originally submitted as bi-partisan legislation in early 2021, the bill’s intent was to </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">fund upgrades to libraries nationwide to address</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">challenges such as natural disasters, COVID-19, broadband capacity, environmental hazards, and accessibility barriers</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Unfortunately, BALA did not make it into the infrastructure package, so the goal now is to get the bill into the federal budget package currently being considered by Congress. Legislation that allocates that funding must be submitted by </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">September 15</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. ALA is advocating the budget package include funding equivalent to the </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">BALA request</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">An estimated $62 million would be allocated for Oregon.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We expect Congressional committees to move quickly, so </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">it’s crucial for library supporters to communicate with Members of Congress *right now* and into early September</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> about the importance of including construction and renovation funding for libraries in the package.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Key decisions will be made by the</span><a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/about/members" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and its counterpart,</span><a href="https://edlabor.house.gov/about/membership" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">the House Committee on Education and Labor</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Luckily, Oregon’s </span><a href="https://bonamici.house.gov/" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> is now serving on this House Committee</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you live in </span><a href="https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/PublishingImages/national/reps-congedited.jpg" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">her district</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, please consider sending a </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">message to her directly</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> via her website’s contact form: </span><a href="https://bonamici.house.gov/contact" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://bonamici.house.gov/contact</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If not in her district, please use </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ALA’s structured form</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> that will send the message to your Congressional legislators:
</span><a href="https://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/write-a-letter?1&engagementId=511327" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/write-a-letter?1&engagementId=511327</span></a><u><br></u><span style="font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;font-family:arial,sans-serif">NOTE: The text here can be customized to tell *your* personal story – which, as we all know, </span>has greater<span style="font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;font-family:arial,sans-serif"> impact on our legislators more than anything else – so please do!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Why stop at a letter, though? Since Congress is currently in recess, this is the perfect time to connect with legislators while they are in their home districts, </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">possibly even having them visit a library where you can show</span><a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/lstagrants/arpaawards" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ARPA funding at work</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> or demonstrate the need for funding for facilities</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(See this </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRqBiVQ0nuA" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">terrific YouTube video</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> from Coos Bay Public Library and this </span><a href="https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/04/15/guest-view-libraries-community-build-americas-libraries-act-emily-david-kate-lasky/7206299002/" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Eugene Register-Guard opinion piece</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> authored by Kate Lasky and Emily David for examples of  Oregon libraries in desperate need of repair.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;white-space:pre-wrap;font-family:arial,sans-serif">Remember, you can find out who your Congressional members are here: </span><a href="https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/findyourlegislator/leg-districts.html" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/findyourlegislator/leg-districts.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;white-space:pre-wrap">To assist with your correspondence, ALA offers some talking points; please see the attached document (edited for Oregon) for these.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thank you for your prompt attention and action, and please contact me (current LDLC Chair), or Jeremy Skinner or Kim Olson-Charles (incoming LDLC Co-Chairs) via </span><a href="mailto:ldlcchair@olaweb.org" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;text-decoration-line:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ldlcchair@olaweb.org</span></a><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, if you have any questions!</span></p><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>*****</div><div>Sue Ludington</div><div>Library Development & Legislative Committee, Chair 2020-2021</div><div>Oregon Library Association</div><div><a href="mailto:ldlcchair@olaweb.org" target="_blank">ldlcchair@olaweb.org</a></div><div>541-682-4337 (w)</div><div>503-754-4653 (h)</div><div>Pronouns: she/her</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>