The Office of the Secretary of State delivered 47 at-risk of layoff letters over the past two weeks to Washington State Library 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 30th, while federally funded positions saw that date extended to Sept. 30th, due to the federal government’s decision to rescind a termination of a critical grant.
On the last day of the legislative session, Washington lawmakers passed the 2025–2027 Operating Budget without including any of the $6.7 million requested to support library operations. That decision comes amid a severe budget deficit for the state library, driven by a sharp decline in real estate transactions and loan refinancing, both of which contribute recording fees that help fund the library.
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.
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, providing accessibility to library services for those who cannot read standard print. Those positions and services are funded by a combination of state and federal funds.
