<div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Dear Oregon Librarian,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Strategies to challenge and remove books from libraries
have continued to evolve over the past year. One of the newest approaches was
seen last week in Josephine County, where an individual tax-payer petitioned county
commissioners to have their property removed from the library taxing district.
You can read more about this developing story at: </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span><a href="https://www.kajo.com/news/news_story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1701866208&ucat=2&template=KAJO17Column&" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank">https://www.kajo.com/news/news_story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1701866208&ucat=2&template=KAJO17Column&</a></font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span><a href="https://www.kajo.com/news/news_story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1701866208&ucat=2&template=KAJO17Column&" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank">https://www.kajo.com/news/news_story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1701866208&ucat=2&template=KAJO17Column&</a></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">- <a href="https://www.opb.org/article/2023/12/12/josephine-county-library-tax-district-opt-out/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=First%20Look%20Dec%2013%202023&utm_content=First%20Look%20Dec%2013%202023+CID_0f0c406f2509845325359b8f884546ec&utm_source=firstlook&utm_term=Learn%20more">https://www.opb.org/article/2023/12/12/josephine-county-library-tax-district-opt-out/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=First%20Look%20Dec%2013%202023&utm_content=First%20Look%20Dec%2013%202023+CID_0f0c406f2509845325359b8f884546ec&utm_source=firstlook&utm_term=Learn%20more</a> <br></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">The Oregon Library Association is continuing to monitor
this unfolding situation, and will be sharing any significant new developments.
If you are a special district librarian and have questions about how this might
impact your library, please reach out to the Special Districts Association of
Oregon.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">In the meantime, this is a good time for all libraries
and librarians to:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span>Stay informed of IF issues and incidents. Here are some resources to help:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">o<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal"> </span>Register with the recently formed Parents Defending Schools and Libraries here: <a href="https://www.pdsal.org/" target="_blank">https://www.pdsal.org/</a></font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">o<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal"> </span><a href="http://www.EveryLibrary.org" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank">www.EveryLibrary.org</a> </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">o<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal"> </span>ALA
OIFC weekly newsletter - <a href="https://www.oif.ala.org/" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank">https://www.oif.ala.org/</a>
</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span>Stay trained.
OLA IFC has an updated toolkit available to you’re here: <a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank">https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/</a>
</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span>Review your policies. Especially your collection development and reconsideration
policies. Here are some sample policies: <a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/policies" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank">https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/policies</a>. If you want support with your policy, please
contact the IFC here: <a href="https://www.olaweb.org/contact-ifc" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank">https://www.olaweb.org/contact-ifc</a>
</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span>Develop a plan for building relationships with
local elected officials.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span>Build a strong support network through local
partnerships and outreach</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">And a reminder, please submit challenge instances to the State Library here: <a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/oifc/report" target="_blank">https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/oifc/report</a> . </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">As always, the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee and the
OLA Legislative and Development Committee are here to support you. Please feel free to reach out should you need
additional or specific support.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Stay strong Oregon libraries!</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Emily O'Neal – IFC Chair</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Jeremy Skinner – LDLC Chair</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br></font><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Chair - <a href="mailto:ifc.chair@olaweb.org" target="_blank">ifc.chair@olaweb.org</a></font><div><font face="arial, sans-serif">Intellectual Freedom Committee <a href="https://www.olaweb.org/if-home" target="_blank">https://www.olaweb.org/if-home</a></font></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif">Oregon Library Association <a href="https://www.olaweb.org/" target="_blank">https://www.olaweb.org/</a></font></div></div></div></div>