<div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Hello Library Community,</font><div><font face="arial, sans-serif">This is likely one of the more important posts I'll make as Chair of the IFC, and one where I am asking all of you (maybe begging you...), library supporters across the state, to please take a few minutes to please consider writing a letter of support for SB1583. </font></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">An Oregon State Legislator, Senator Fredrick from
North/Northeast Portland has introduced a bill into the legislature to Ban Book
Bans. The bill will be heard on Feb 13th in the afternoon and we're looking for
people to testify in favor of this bill. Testifying can include speaking at the hearing on the 13th, or sending letters of support available here: </font><a href="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Testimony/SED/SB/1583/0000-00-00-00-00?area=Measures">https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Testimony/SED/SB/1583/0000-00-00-00-00?area=Measures</a> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Here is a <a href="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/SB1583" style="color:blue">link
to Senate bill 1583</a>. If you are interested in testifying you'll need to register.
There is a tab that says "Register to Testify" you just fill out a
short form. They are expecting a lot of opposition testimony as there has
already been some negative written testimony submitted. We're hoping to drown
out the negative testimony with the pro testimony.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">If you have any questions or need help with talking points
please reach out. The amount of time to testify is very short per person, 2 minutes. </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">This is one opportunity, where we can collectively make a difference. Where our masses can help set direction for all of Oregon and protect voices that are being silenced. This, of all times, is a time to put your actions to test and stand up. There are over 500 people on this list, if everyone wrote a letter of support or offered to testify on the 13th, we would definitely succeed in being the louder voice.</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">Please take 5 minutes to consider testifying or sending written testimony.</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 of course, if you have any questions on this, please feel free to reach out.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Best,</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Emily </font></p></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br clear="all"></font><div><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><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" style="">https://www.olaweb.org/</a></font></div></div></div></div></div>