Washington State Library Branches
Escape Threatened Closure
A dozen branches of the Washington State Library located in prisons and state hospitals have narrowly escaped being shut down, although they still face the threat of elimination in next year’s budget.
Secretary of State Sam Reed, who oversees the state library system, had ordered Acting State Librarian Jan Walsh to lay off two librarians at each branch effective November 1 and distribute the collections to other libraries, the Tacoma News-Tribune reported August 28. However, after meeting with Department of Corrections Chief Joe Lehman and Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Dennis Braddock, Gov. Gary Locke agreed to use emergency funds to keep the branches open through next June.
In January, Locke had proposed closing the entire state library system as part of his effort to address a $1.2-billion shortfall in the state’s biennial budget. After the legislature rescued the library by transferring it to the secretary of state’s office, Locke said he would withhold nearly $1 million from its operating budget. Reed subsequently announced the closure of the branches, the News-Tribune reported.
Posted September 2, 2002.
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