Washington State Library

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

Washington State Adult Summer Reading Book Bingo 2026 is here!

Libraries and bookstores of Washington, please feel free to download, print, and distribute these Book Bingo forms to your community members!

We’ve seen some libraries in Washington do a drawing for prizes at the end of the summer; we’ve also heard from readers who are excited to bring back some of the fun of summer reading programs they enjoyed as kids – and that in itself is a prize.

This year’s delightful artwork was created by Vivian Li.

These cards were adapted from The Seattle Public Library, Seattle Arts & Lectures, and King County Library System bingo program, and this is the tenth year we’ve been able to provide a card for readers across Washington.

Send us pictures of your book bingo displays and we will post them via Washington State Library social media. Post your displays using the hashtag .

05/20/2026

This month WSL Library Development staff members Shawn and Kathleen went to learn more about supporting news publishers in our state at the recent "Imagining the Future of Local News in Washington” listening and collaboration sessions hosted by the Washington Newspaper Alliance in Yakima. These sessions covered challenges facing publishers and newsrooms across the state to engage readership, strengthen community news sources, and support the next generation of journalists and news coverage across our state. Shawn presented a short lightning talk of Washington Digital Newspapers program highlights to attendees.

The Washington Local Journalism Summit in Redmond highlighted efforts of the WSU Murrow College of Communication to grow their Fellowship program of young journalists to engage community news coverage in Washington’s 39 counties. Several panels of discussion focused on fellowship projects in Port Townsend and Yakima Valley, public policy and support needs for statewide coverage, and the role of AI in modern journalism.

05/20/2026

The Washington State Library is many things to many people across our state and beyond. Our Central Library includes historical and northwest collections (including books, maps, photos, and newspapers) as well as reference staff that can help with all kinds of research including genealogy. Our Library Development department provides grant funding, consulting services, training, and support to libraries of all types and sizes all across our state. Our Institutional Library Services (ILS) provide excellent library services inside state prisons, psychiatric hospitals, and one juvenile rehabilitation center. Our Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) does the vital work of building community and providing equitable access to information and reading materials for Washington residents unable to read standard print. The ALL Foundation promotes history, community and preservation in the Washington Archives, Library, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, and Legacy Washington.

Recently staff members from all across our teams had the privilege of meeting together in person at WTBBL's beautiful facility (a former car dealership in downtown Seattle!) for a rare chance to connect with each other across our programs after an extremely difficult year marked by dire funding challenges. The day included a much needed burst of library joy via a visit from puppies from the Guide Dogs for the Blind-Seattle, WA Puppy Raisers.

05/19/2026

Join a few of our wonderful University of Washington Information School Capstone students for this free workshop tomorrow morning!

Join us tomorrow for a special session with the Washington State Library called "Cut, Paste, Create: Designing Memorable Zine Workshops" led by two iSchool MLIS students! The workshop is at 9 a.m. PT/noon ET. Can't attend? Register to get a copy of the recording: https://washstatelib.libcal.com/event/16793329

05/18/2026

A few months back former Washington State Librarian and all around library champion and dynamo Cindy Aden retired from her position at the University of Washington Information School. Washington State Librarian Sara Jones and Library Development Manager Mike Buschman were on hand to celebrate Cindy and her countless contributions to our profession and the wide world of libraries. Congratulations Cindy and thank you for everything!

05/14/2026

At the recent Washington Library Association conference in Yakima, a group of lucky librarians from around the state got a tour of the Yakima Valley Libraries Northwest Reading Room at their Central Branch. Archivist Librarian Carlos Pelley showed the group around the collection that focuses on local and regional history, from the territorial period through the mid-20th century. The collection contains maps, microfilm, photos, newspapers, fruit labels, books and more. Visit in person if you can, but research assistance and access to these materials is available by appointment, both onsite or online!

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Longview Public Library who recently celebrated their 100th birthday! Washington State Librarian Sara Jones was on hand to celebrate this joyful milestone with the Longview community. Here's to 100 more!

Sara Jones presented the library with a certificate from WA Secretary of State Steve Hobbs that read in part: "For over 100 years, the Longview Public Library has been a crucial place for knowledge, information access, and critical social and civic services like voter registration, citizenship and language classes. By celebrating a century of promoting literacy and lifelong learning, the Longview Library continues to empower individuals to grow and develop while providing an important place for the community.

It is through those who gave of themselves for the benefit of this institution through their hard work and dedication that, 100 years after its construction, we continue to honor the efforts and accomplishments of the important events and people who have made the Longview Public Library the outstanding organization it is today."

05/07/2026

The Institutional Library Services team of the Washington State Library recently won a Washington Library Association Merit Award for their dedication to and perseverance in providing library services inside state prisons, psychiatric hospitals, and one juvenile rehabilitation center. The award was accepted on their behalf by the ILS Program Manager who presented it to the team at an all-Library meeting on April 29. The team’s Program Manager was quoted as saying, “The ILS team not only goes into their individual facilities each day, which is difficult enough, but has really stepped up to provide program-level support for each other during this last year of loss [budget and personnel].”