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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">Hi all, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">There will be an official press release in the coming weeks, but you heard it here first: in 2027, the total amount of Ready to Read grants will be increased by $400,000, thanks to an addition of Birth to
5 Literacy funds from the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), in recognition of the critical role public libraries serve for early childhood literacy. Libraries will receive anywhere from 28% to 100% more Ready to Read funds over 2026, with a median
increase of 65%. <i>The preliminary 2027 R2R grant award amounts will be released in July, as per usual.
<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0in"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">As you know, eligible public libraries use R2R funds to support early learning or summer reading programming. This amount increases total funds by nearly 50%, to $1,310,066.
<b>The State Library will double the minimum grant for libraries to $2,000</b>. The rest of the funds will be distributed based on the statutory formula in 80% on a per child age 0-14 in the library’s service area and 20% on square mileage.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0in"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">While the financial picture looks different these days, the time and attention you brought to the Fall 2025 survey and listening sessions is most appreciated and will help inform the State Library’s next
strategic plan. I’m happy to share that <a href="https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Documents/BudgetsAndReports/UnderstadingCommunityExpectationsoftheStateLibraryReport.pdf">
the report is posted</a>! Stay tuned for a future Town Hall to help unpack this 70-page look at the community’s understanding and expectations of the State Library.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0in"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">The Governor has <a href="https://web.govpress.oregon.gov//mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100169637.7280.223&gen=1">
submitted appointments for Senate confirmation</a> next month, which includes three folks for the State Library Board:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">Nikotris Lewis, member of the public representing Western Oregon, for a second term<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">Jennifer Reading, public library representative for Western Oregon, for a first term
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">Mary Beechler, member of the public representing Eastern Oregon, for a first term
<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">When confirmed, all three of these appointments will begin on July 1, 2026, and end June 30, 2030. Read more about the
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/library/operations/Pages/Library-Board.aspx">State Library Board on our website</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">Please let me know what questions this sparks.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="font-family:Ebrima;color:black">Thanks,
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Ebrima;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="font-family:Ebrima;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><span style="font-family:Ebrima;color:black">Wendy
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Ebrima;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Ebrima;color:black">Wendy Cornelisen (she, her, hers)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">State Librarian</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Ebrima"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">State Library of Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Ebrima"><a href="mailto:wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:Ebrima">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="font-family:Ebrima"><img border="0" width="218" height="61" style="width:2.2708in;height:.6354in" id="Picture_x0020_27" src="cid:image001.png@01DCE9F2.01CC83D0" alt="Title: State Library of Oregon"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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