<div dir="ltr"><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">News to Use: An Overview of OLA’s Library Development and Legislative Committee (LDLC) - February 1, 2022</span></strong><u></u><u></u></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Following the format of OLA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee <a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/1" target="_blank">Tuesday Topics</a>, OLA’s Library Development and Legislative Committee (LDLC) is launching <b>News to Use</b>, a series of email messages about policy and advocacy topics of interest to the Oregon library community. We are launching the series with an overview of the work of LDLC. </span><u></u><u></u></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">What does the LDLC do?</span></strong><u></u><u></u></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in"><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Establishes OLA’s legislative agenda by identifying issues of interest to libraries before the Oregon legislature and U.S. Congress and working to advocate for or against bills</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Works with OLA Lobbyist to prepare hearing testimony and contact key legislators</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Hosts “<a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/2" target="_blank">Legislative Day</a>” events for members to learn about legislative issues and meet with legislators</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Keep OLA members informed about legislative issues impacting Oregon libraries</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Helps build capacity for librarians to better advocate for local government support</span><u></u><u></u></li></ul><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">What does this look like?</span></strong><u></u><u></u></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">In 2021, the LDLC helped OLA advocate for</span><u></u><u></u></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in"><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/3" target="_blank">Information literacy and library media program standards</a></span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/4" target="_blank">On-time adoption of course materials for higher-education students</a></span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/5" target="_blank">Ready to Read funding as included in proposed State Library budget</a></span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/6" target="_blank">American Rescue Plan Act</a> funding for special districts and <a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/7" target="_blank">Building America's Libraries Act (BALA)</a></span><u></u><u></u></li></ul><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Why is it important?</span></strong><u></u><u></u></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in"><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">In a frequently changing political climate, it can be hard to keep up with policy changes impacting libraries and know how to advocate effectively. </span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">OLA membership dues help to pay for lobbying services, but our lobbyists need the advice of OLA LDLC to gain a good understanding of library issues and need to hear about real life experiences to help them tell the library story. </span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Paid lobbyists are part of OLA’s advocacy strategy, but we need our members' help to get the messages out to public officials who want to hear directly from those they represent. </span><u></u><u></u></li></ul><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">What is coming up in 2022?</span></strong><u></u><u></u></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">As part of its legislative agenda for 2022, OLA is supporting <a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/8" target="_blank">HB 4092</a>. Section 6 of this bill <a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/9" target="_blank">establishes the Connecting Oregon Libraries Fund</a>, a state E-rate fund to supplement federal E-rate funding. The state fund would help maximize the discounts for internet connectivity and network infrastructure currently available to eligible Oregon libraries. The LDLC will provide more background information about E-rate funding in an upcoming post. </span><u></u><u></u></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">What can I do?</span></strong><u></u><u></u></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The LDLC needs stories from libraries about broadband projects. These stories will be incredibly helpful in our advocacy effort with legislators as we talk about the benefits of having reliable, fast internet to meet community need:</span><u></u><u></u></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Do you have a broadband infrastructure project you’ve completed using E-Rate?  If so, please share:</span><u></u><u></u></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in"><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Your library address where the project took place,</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">A paragraph summary of the project (please include the benefit for library staff and the community at large),</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The cost to complete the project, and</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The E-Rate discount you received.</span><u></u><u></u></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Do you have a broadband infrastructure project in mind? If so, please share:</span><u></u><u></u></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in"><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Your library address where the project would take place,</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">A paragraph summary of the proposed project (please include an explanation for the need for the broadband upgrade to support staff and the community),</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Your current broadband speeds,</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">An estimated cost to complete the project, if available, and</span><u></u><u></u></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Any barriers to accessing E-Rate funds to help with the project you foresee.</span><u></u><u></u></li></ul><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please share your stories with LDLC co-chairs at <a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/10" target="_blank">ldlcchair@olaweb.org</a></span></strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">! We can help get your story known by reaching out to your local legislators about these projects.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Who is on the Committee?</span></strong><u></u><u></u></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The <a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/11" target="_blank">current list of members</a> is on the LDLC webpage</span><u></u><u></u></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Need more information?</span></strong><u></u><u></u></p><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Contact <a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/10" target="_blank">LDLC Co-Chairs</a> or see the <a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/1601a8c6-ef93-43d7-b083-8bf9f93400ba/12" target="_blank">LDLC webpage</a></span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="1" height="1" id="gmail-m_8025240663176949737_x0000_i1029" src="http://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/open?upn=U1JzzdUkg4cgmKM0Iu-2FazlS-2BwIMIvpzVnBin7SPKmwghTwQDRsUyD4fz1k76sSiTSxepU1Q92-2FcIXK9lQJFwMQJrSl7-2B76ow0gveeMYKRyiGLNStPUviMydB-2Bbg2VpFb1gt-2BOpc1-2FCB58QIhbsuMQOH9tFwp2NB1Bn4MpMSl1QJ110JdsBZJVLZ-2FRTE3f6I" class="gmail-CToWUd" style="width: 0.0104in; height: 0.0104in;"></p><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>Arlene Weible</div><div>Oregon Library Association President, 2021-2022<br></div><div dir="ltr"><div><a href="mailto:olapresident@olaweb.org" target="_blank">olapresident@olaweb.org</a><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>