Wednesday July 8

We spend the whole day in Salem, the capital of Oregon. Like in Portland all meetings are well prepared, they start and end in time. Our American colleagues are perfect hosts. Since they are so interested in our international group, they always make us present aspects of our work too.

For me as a parliamentary librarian this day is one of the highlights. The Capitol of Oregon, the State Library and the State Archives are situated next to each other at the mall. The three buildings are made of the same beautiful white marble. Without words it is clear that the Library and the Archives are important elements of the society of the state of Oregon. Because of a fire in the Capitol two years ago the Gouvernor lost his office and together with a staff of twenty he has moved to the State Library!

In the National Archives we are welcomed by the Sectretary of State Kate Brown, who spends 20 minutes with us! Kate Brown would take the position of the Governor in case something happened to him.

Oregon is a happy state! There are no security checks in the Capitol. The Secretary of State meets our group without bodyguards or other personal assistants! Oregon has a bi-cameral parliament, but the legislation meets in plenary only every second year!