<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Century Gothic";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:472795562;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-420472010 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to do to bridge the digital divide in Oregon. Libraries provide public access to the internet, loan devices and hotspots,
and help individuals improve their digital skills. These services are an essential part of the digital equity ecosystem that supports those who cannot fully participate in our current digital world.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As you may know, the federal <a href="https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/funding-programs">
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)</a><b> </b>authorizes the <a href="https://ntia.gov/">
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)</a> to distribute
<b>millions of dollars to Oregon</b> in the next few years to help close gaps in broadband infrastructure and promote digital inclusion among groups most likely to face barriers in accessing the digital world. This funding will be managed by the
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Oregon_Broadband_Office/Pages/default.aspx">
Oregon Broadband Office</a>, who is currently gathering information to help plan for the distribution of this money.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would like to urge you to help the State Library work with the Broadband Office to document the important work your library does to promote internet access and digital equity. The data being gathered now will help determine which communities
and organizations will gain access to federal funding and it is very important that libraries are well represented in this data. It is also important that all types of libraries participate in this process. Whether you help students, researchers, or the general
public, all libraries have a role to play in the digital equity ecosystem. <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ve sent a separate message to library directors asking them to complete a survey on behalf of their institutions. Here are some other things you can do …<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Encourage your library director to complete the survey. If they didn’t receive a copy, please let me know.<o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="2" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Ask those library users that you know have stories about their struggles to access digital services to attend in-person listening sessions hosted by the Broadband Office across the
state in the coming weeks. If they cannot attend, consider attending yourself and tell their stories yourself. A
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Oregon_Broadband_Office/Pages/help_plan_BEAD.aspx">
full list of the locations of these meetings</a> is available on the Broadband website.
<o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="3" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">No in-person meeting nearby? Help your library users tell their story and use a library computer to help them fill out the
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OR_InternetNeedsAssessment01"><b>Oregon Internet Accessibility Needs Assessment</b></a><b>.
</b><o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">I know you have many demands on your time and we at the State Library understand the impact of these types of requests can have when you have limited bandwidth. If you are able to invest just a small amount
of your time to take one of the actions above, I want to assure you it will pay off and make a big difference in the improvement of access internet service and digital equity in your community for years to come.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in">Wendy <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Wendy Cornelisen (she, her, hers)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">State Librarian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">State Library of Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><a href="mailto:wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov</span></a><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Office: 503-378-4367| Mobile 971-375-3992<br>
<a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library">www.oregon.gov/library</a><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Follow us: <a href="http://fb.me/StateLibraryOR">
Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/StateLibraryOR">Twitter</a><b> </b>| <a href="https://www.instagram.com/statelibraryor/">
Instagram</a><b> </b>|<b> </b><a href="https://pinterest.com/statelibraryor/">Pinterest</a><u><span style="color:#0563C1"> |
</span></u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-kU8Gu0jS_YcnXg-b_TRA/featured">YouTube</a><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="218" height="61" style="width:2.2708in;height:.6354in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D9978D.1E9ED950" alt="Title: State Library of Oregon"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>