<div dir="ltr"><div>I am sharing my submission to NWCCU if it helps anyone else in drafting their own response. For those of you who do not work in academic libraries, please know that the current NWCCU standard is a drastic shortening of the previous standards, and that this change was met with quite a bit of concern and pushback at the time. Now they wish to diminish library quality even more. While I did not mention this in my response, my personal feeling is that it is college administrators who are pushing for this new standard which does not seem to have anything to do with the quality of library resources but the ability to engage in cost-cutting. </div><div><br></div><div>Bryan</div><div><br></div><div>***********************************************</div><div><br></div><div>Dear members of the NWCCU,<br>My institution provides support not only to public libraries here in Lincoln County, Oregon, but also to school libraries and academic libraries within our area. The Chinook Library network, which is administered by my office, serves public libraries in Tillamook and Lincoln County, as well as libraries at the Oregon Coast Community College, Tillamook Bay Community College, and Clatsop Community College. And so I feel well placed to speak regarding the needs of incoming and current college students and the needs of the academic libraries which we serve. Today's information environment is quite complex. It's not just the difficulties students have from responding to generative AI, libraries and faculty have to deal with an ever changing models for publication and licensing. Having qualified librarians on hand has helped our institutions meet these challenges. Librarians teach students information literacy and research skills necessary for preparing students for the future. They provide streamlined access to media and resources necessary for instructional programs, and are still vital in helping faculty discover and access necessary curricular materials. <br><br>I think that it's useful to acknowledge that the current 2020 standards regarding library resources are a drastic shortening of the previous 2010 standards, which I provide here for your reference:<br><br>2.E.1 Consistent with its mission and core themes, the institution holds or provides access to library and information resources with an appropriate level of currency, depth, and breadth to support the institution’s mission, core themes, programs, and services, wherever offered and however delivered.<br>2.E.2 Planning for library and information resources is guided by data that include feedback from affected users and appropriate library and information resources faculty, staff, and administrators.<br>2.E.3 Consistent with its mission and core themes, the institution provides appropriate instruction and support for students, faculty, staff, administrators, and others (as appropriate) to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in obtaining, evaluating, and using library and information resources that support its programs and services, wherever offered and however delivered.<br>2.E.4 The institution regularly and systematically evaluates the quality, adequacy, utilization, and security of library and information resources and services, including those provided through cooperative arrangements, wherever offered and however delivered.<br><br>I encourage you to revisit the former standard, 2.E.2 - "Planning for library and information resources is guided by data that include feedback from affected users and appropriate library and information resources faculty, staff, and administrators." I can assure you that the proposed new standards are not sufficient to meet your libraries' needs nor the needs of your students and faculty. I am certain that academic librarians around the Pacific NW will concur. More importantly, I am certain that your faculty and staff at NWCCU institutions will echo the need for qualified personnel to staff their libraries. <br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 2:58 PM Mark Peterson via Libs-Or <<a href="mailto:libs-or@omls.oregon.gov">libs-or@omls.oregon.gov</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-7356973433330225190">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Dear Oregon Library Community<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">On behalf of the ACRL-OR Board<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">We are writing to alert you to a critical proposed change in the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) accreditation standards that would significantly weaken requirements for
academic library staffing across our region.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">What's Changing<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">NWCCU is currently revising their 2020 Accreditation Standards for implementation in 2027. They are proposing to remove the requirement that institutions "employ qualified personnel" from the library
resources standard.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Current 2020 Standard (2.H.1):</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> "Consistent with its mission, the institution employs qualified personnel and provides access to library and
information resources with a level of currency, depth, and breadth sufficient to support and sustain the institution's mission, programs, and services."<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Proposed 2027 Standard (2.F.1):</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> "Consistent with its mission, the institution provides access to library and information resources with a
level of currency, depth, and breadth sufficient to support and sustain the institution's mission, programs, and services."<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Why This Matters<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">This change eliminates accountability for employing credentialed library professionals at accredited institutions. Academic librarianship requires specialized graduate education, typically a Master's
degree from an ALA-accredited program, in information organization, research methodologies, instructional design, and collection management. Removing this requirement:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Creates permission for institutions to eliminate or leave vacant librarian positions<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_5561312619534385920MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Disproportionately harms students at under-resourced institutions who rely most on professional library support<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_5561312619534385920MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Undermines libraries' essential role in information literacy, research consultation, and student success<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_5561312619534385920MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Weakens institutional capacity to manage complex information resources and vendor relationships<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Recommended Actions<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Submit individual feedback to NWCCU expressing opposition to removing "employs qualified personnel" and advocating for strengthened language that explicitly recognizes librarian expertise</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">You input on this proposed change can be submitted to NWCCU here:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nwccu.tfaforms.net/55" target="_blank">https://nwccu.tfaforms.net/55</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Feedback Opportunity<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Learn more about the proposed changes here:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nwccu.org/standards/standards-revision/" target="_blank">https://nwccu.org/standards/standards-revision/</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Sample Feedback Language<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">We have prepared key points you can adapt for your own submission:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Diminished accountability</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> - Removes measurable standards for professional library staffing, making it difficult to evaluate institutional compliance with quality
expectations<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_5561312619534385920MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in">
<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Inequitable outcomes</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> - Under-resourced institutions may use this change as justification to eliminate or leave vacant librarian positions, disproportionately harming
students at community colleges and smaller institutions who most need professional support<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_5561312619534385920MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in">
<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Compromised student success</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> - Loss of professional research consultation and information literacy instruction directly impacts students' ability to complete coursework,
develop critical thinking skills, and meet program learning outcomes<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_5561312619534385920MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in">
<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Institutional mission negligence</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> - Without specialized librarian expertise in collection development, licensing negotiations, archives, and emerging and cutting-edge
technologies, institutions waste resources and cannot adequately support faculty scholarship or curricular needs<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">This is a critical moment for academic libraries in the Northwest. Your voice matters. Please take action and encourage your colleagues to do the same. If you have questions or need assistance preparing
feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Thank you for your support!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">ACRL-Oregon Board<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">Have a great day!</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">Mark Peterson</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Faculty Librarian, Collection Management Coordinator</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">Mt. Hood Community College</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">26000 SE Stark Street, Gresham, Or 97030</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><a href="mailto:mark.peterson@mhcc.edu" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">mark.peterson@mhcc.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:rgb(33,33,33)">(503) 491-7693</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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--<br>
To remove yourself from the Libs-Or mailing list please send the word “unsubscribe” (without quotes) to <a href="mailto:Libs-Or-request@omls.oregon.gov" target="_blank">Libs-Or-request@omls.oregon.gov</a></div></blockquote></div><div><br clear="all"></div><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Bryan Miyagishima (he/him), Director</div><div>Lincoln County Library District</div><div>Newport, Oregon</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>