OLYMPIA – The Office of the Secretary of State delivered 47 at-risk of layoff letters over the past two weeks to Washington State Library (WSL) employees. This is the first step toward anticipated layoffs in Washington state’s process and a direct result of diminished state and federal funding.
Staff in state-funded positions received a layoff date of June 30, 2025, while federally funded positions saw that date extended to Sept. 30, 2025, due to the federal government’s decision to rescind a termination of a critical grant.
“It is heartbreaking and distressing to witness the near elimination of our state’s Central Library, which has existed since territorial times to enrich our culture and serve as a research hub for our state’s residents,” said Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. “It hosts a one-of-a-kind literary collection dedicated to our region and history, notable digital initiatives and tools accessed by professional historians, journalists, and an interested public, a comprehensive collection of newspapers in the state of Washington, a repository of state and federal publications, and research assistance to residents by professional librarians. This will also have a significant impact on operations at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, which relies on both state and federal funding.”
On the last day of the legislative session, the State Legislature passed the 2025–2027 Operating Budget without including any of the $6.7 million requested to support library operations. This decision comes amid a severe budget deficit for WSL, driven by a sharp decline in real estate transactions and loan refinancing, both of which contribute recording fees that help fund WSL.
House Bill 1207, currently awaiting the Governor’s action, will provide some budgetary relief. Still, the funding gap is already having a measurable effect on library services statewide.
“Libraries are cornerstones of civic life and education,” said Washington State Librarian Sara Jones. “Without stable funding, we risk denying communities access to the information, literacy tools, and resources they depend on.”
The Central Library employs 15 staff and several project positions funded by state revenues from document recording fees primarily from real estate transactions. Also funded by those state dollars are 12 positions at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), providing accessibility to library services for those who cannot read standard print. WTBBL positions and services are funded by a combination of state and federal funds.
Among the most heavily impacted services are:
Research Library in Tumwater:
The loss of staff positions will significantly reduce public service hours and may result in full closure to the public. Access to important historical and governmental collections will be restricted. The State Switchboard phone line, which receives thousands of phone calls each year, will go unanswered, and email inquiries will no longer receive timely responses. Additionally, subscriptions to newspaper and genealogy databases will be discontinued, and the acquisition of new materials will be drastically limited.
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) in Seattle:
WTBBL, the state’s only accessible library service for people with print disabilities, faces severe cuts. The facility may be closed to the public, phone support will be reduced to responding to messages, and circulation and registration services may be slowed. The production of braille and audio materials could also be reduced or suspended. These disruptions jeopardize equitable access to information for some of Washington’s most vulnerable residents.
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Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime and the Civic Engagement Program to increase governmental trust and participation for all Washingtonians.