<div dir="ltr"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">The University of Oregon <a href="https://strengthenuo.org/solidarity-spotlight-uo-library-workers-hit-hard-by-september-2025-layoffs/" target="_blank">has announced the layoffs of 4 librarians and 3 administrators within the library unit</a> as the University addresses a budget deficit. T</span><span style="font-size:11pt">he OLA Board hosted Damon Campbell, U of O librarian, TSRT secretary, and United Academics Union Steward, at our October board meeting to learn more about the situation and how OLA can help.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt">From Damon: “</span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black">The decision to eliminate these positions indicates a critical lack of understanding of the work library employees do and the benefits we provide to the University and the academic ecosystem.” United Academics has a larger goal of achieving increased financial transparency and shared financial governance; UA is also seeking support from the larger community as they pursue avenues for walking the layoffs back.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black">The OLA Board has signed off on an organizational support letter and will also draft an original letter of support; the OLA community is encouraged to demonstrate additional solidarity <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/protect-library-employees-and-services-at-the-university-of-oregon?source=direct_link&." target="_blank">through a petition on Action Network</a>. </span><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Thanks in advance for letting U of O leadership know how crucial these positions are! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Best,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">April</span></p></div><div><br></div><div><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 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.2px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font size="4"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif">April Witteveen (she/her)</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif"><br>Oregon Library Association President, 2025-26</span></font></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:18.2px;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="arial narrow, sans-serif" size="4"><a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/63725e0a-2fbc-4461-b6d4-6cd26d853055/3" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">olapresident@olaweb</a><a href="http://ola.memberclicks.net/message2/link/63725e0a-2fbc-4461-b6d4-6cd26d853055/3" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">.org</a></font></p></div></div><div dir="ltr"><img src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wAYIK1sJDVnprQI6YPU_0Baz6-yMDBBAmT0ra8xDAzu5H9c8Bi8ihr9OKN-hp4fVHt-7CSpu0" width="96" height="39"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>