Washington State Librarys Research Library, Washington Talking Book Braille Library closed to public due to budget shortfall

The Washington State Library will close its research library in Tumwater and the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in Seattle starting July 1, 2025, due to budget constraints. The closure follows the state legislature's exclusion of $6. 7 million requested for library operations from the 2025-2027 Operating Budget. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs stated that staffing cuts made it impractical to keep the libraries open. The closures will severely limit access to important collections, genealogy databases, and essential programming, affecting underserved populations who rely on these resources.

Programming such as multisensory story time and workshops will be canceled, further diminishing community support. Washington State Librarian Sara Jones noted the immediate impact on equitable access to information for those unable to read standard print. While future funding may alleviate some issues, the current budget shortfall poses significant challenges. The closures highlight the broader financial difficulties faced by the Washington State Library due to declining revenues from real estate transactions and loan refinancing.