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<p class="MsoNormal">As we hit the half-way mark of Banned Books Week, I want to take a moment to say thank you.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your dedication to intellectual freedom shows itself in so many ways. You are doing the hard work, fighting for the rights of others. You are the helpers, making sure there is access to resources that make people feel acknowledged, enlightened
about their own experiences, and have the chance to learn about the experiences of others. Oregon is not immune to censorship or attacks on library workers. In this current climate things feel (and sometimes very much are) especially personal. I’m grateful
for your resolve. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Remember that we’re not alone. We have allies, advocates, and believers on our side. From students and teachers to Judy Blume and LaVar Burton to Pen America and the
<a href="https://ncac.org/news/blog/guidelines-school-officials">National Coalition Against Censorship</a>. The information these groups help gather bolster our case, both at the national and state level. The
<a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/ld.php?content_id=73171120">Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse Report</a> offers some glimmer of good news: even with a record number of titles challenged, the vast majority stayed on the shelf.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the midst of this fight, please make sure to take care of yourself. Extend that same compassion to your colleagues. Together we can make sure the library stays a place where knowledge and ideas are celebrated.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Thanks,
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Wendy
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<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</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><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%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov</span></a>
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<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"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.oregon.gov/library</span></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">
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