American Library Association | Search ALA | Contact ALA | Give ALA | Join ALA | ALA FAQ | ALA Login

American Libraries

Site Navigation







Left Sidebar Items

Online Features
AL Twitter feed

Follow American Libraries news stories, videos, and blog posts on Twitter.

Washington Senate Greenlights
State Library Cuts

The Washington State Senate voted 29–20 January 29 to approve an acceleration of the two-year budget proposed by Gov. Gary Locke, which includes cuts that would eliminate 39 employees and $6.7 million from the Washington State Library in Olympia, effective April 30 instead of June. The funds would be cut from library operations and research assistance to state agencies, and would effectively close the library to the public. It would not affect aid to local libraries, online access to government documents, or the talking book and Braille programs.

Sen. Karen Fraser (D-Thurston County) floated an amendment to blunt the library cuts by slashing $560,000 across-the-board to goods-and-services spending by state agencies, the Olympian reported January 30. Sen. Betti Sheldon (D-Bremerton) reminded her peers that the library was the state’s “oldest cultural institution,” dating from an 1853 grant. However, the Republican-dominated Senate voted the amendment down.

Posted February 3, 2003.

Right Sidebar

AL Joblist
ALA Store





advertisement