Tag Archives: Washington State Library

Washington State Library Closing to the Public

by Charles Hansen

I just wanted to send out a quick email and let you know that the Washington State Library will be closed to the public starting July 1, 2025. My position as the Genealogy Services and Newspaper Librarian has been eliminated. For more information, please see this press release and article:

Washington State Library’s Research Library, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library Closed to Public Due to Budget Shortfall

Washington State Library closing to the public, 12 jobs getting axed

Items will still be available through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), so if you need a newspaper on microfilm or a book from our Northwest Collection, please go to your local library and request the item through ILL.

The LibGuides will still be available.

Newspapers of Washington State

Genealogy at the Washington State Library

And be sure to check out the County Research LibGuides! I hope to have all of the counties completed before June 30th.

Please stay tuned to the Washington State Library homepage for more information on available services at the library.

Dusty

Dusty Gorman (she/her)
Genealogy Services & Newspaper Collections Librarian
Washington State Library | Office of the Secretary of State

6880 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA  98501
O: 360-704-5268 | Dusty.Gorman@sos.wa.gov

Help Preserve Newspapers for Filming

by Charles Hansen
The Washington Digital Newspapers program of the Washington State Library has been working closely with Sound Publishing, the newspaper publisher that provides news on community activities in northwestern Washington. Due to a recent purchase of Sound Publishing by Carpenter Media, several regional publications & distribution offices have closed in Port Angeles, Everett, Whidbey and other areas. Bound newspaper issues ranging from the late 1890s through the early 2000s are in danger of being recycled.   In some cases, we know there are bound volumes that have not been preserved on microfilm or other formats and may be the only copies left in existence. The State Library would like to eventually preserve these on microfilm, but they must find a new location for them before the end of June where they will be safe until they can be filmed. This is where they need your help!   Below is the list of newspaper titles that will need to be re-housed by June 30.  
Action timeline  
By April 30th: Please email Shawn Schollmeyer with which titles your organization is interested in preserving and storing. She will provide further detail on the quantity of bound volumes and approximate date ranges.
Forward this message to other preservation colleagues in your city or county who may be able to assist   May Arrange to pick up titles by the end of May. If there are a large number of volumes we may be able to arrange a truck delivery via Sound Publishing in some cases.  
June All arrangements will need to be made before the end of June. Due to federal and state budget cuts there will be little to no capacity to make arrangements for you to pick up your titles and related archival press photos after this time. Sound Publishing can no longer house the materials after June.    Email Shawn if you are interested in preserving one of the newspaper titles listed below:
Arlington Times
East Bremerton Advertiser
Northwest Guardian (JBLM Northwest Guardian)
Shoreline Reporter
Auburn Reporter
East Bremerton News
Northwest Navigator
Silverdale Reporter
Bainbridge Island Review
Eastside Journal
Oak Harbor News
Snohomish Eye
Bainbridge Review
Eastside Week
Paine Field
South County Journal
Bellevue American
Everett Daily Herald
Peninsula Daily News
South Whidbey Record
Bellingham Business Journal
Everett Herald
Peninsula Business Journal
Southwest Seattle Burien Guide
Bothell Citizen
Forks Forum
Peninsula Shopper
Southwest Seattle Shopping Guide
Bothell – Kenmore Reporter
Island County Farm Bureau News
Port Angeles Daily News
Tacoma Daily Index
Bremerton Patriot
Island County News
Port Angeles Evening News
The Progress
Burien Guide Journal
Issaquah Reporter
Port Orchard Independent
Times
Central County Press
Journal American		Puget Sound Navy News
Trident Tides
Central Kitsap Reporter Central Kitsap Style
King County Journal
Renton Reporter
Whidbey Crosswind
Community Style
Kent Reporter
Redmond Reporter Weekly
Central Kitsap Style
King County Journal
Renton Reporter
Whidbey Crosswind
Community Style
Kirkland Reporter
Reporter (Silverdale)
Whidbey Examiner
Coupeville Examiner
Kitsap County Herald
Sammamish Reporter
Whidbey Island Record
Covington Maple Valley Reporter
Kitsap Daily
Seattle Shopper
Whidbey News-Times
Daily Globe News
Marysville Globe
The Seattle Weekly
Whidbey Record Times
Daily Journal American
Mercer Island Reporter
The Seattle Weekly (Eastzone)
Whidbey Today
Daily News Journal
News Advertiser
Sequim Gazette
Des Moines Midway
North Kitsap Herald
Des Moines – Normandy Park Tribune
Northshore Citizen
Des Moines Tribune
”The Washington State Historical Society partners with our communities to explore how history connects us all.”

Washington State Library Digital Genealogy Survey

by Charles Hansen

I’m sending out this survey regarding interest in potential Digital Genealogy Options from the Washington State Library. Feel free to forward the link to anyone interested in Washington State Library genealogy services.

Click here for the survey

The survey will be available through August 15.

Kathryn Devine (she/her)

Reference/Genealogy Librarian

Washington State Library | Office of the Secretary of State

6880 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA 98501

O: 360-704-5268 | Kathryn.Devine@sos.wa.gov