Eliminate WA State Library?

If Governor Gary Locke has his way, Washington may become the only state in the country without a state library. Faced with a $1.2 billion budget shortfall over the next two years, Locke is proposing to close the Washington State Library to save $9 million.

If accepted by the state legislature, the library would permanently shut down by October, putting 145 people out of work. Locke's proposal was immediately met by a wave of protests by librarians in Washington as well as nationwide. Washington State Librarian Nancy Zussy, who is fighting to save the institution she oversees, has spoken to many state legislators, both Democrat and Republican, and she says, "they're outraged and upset." Locke has also received many letters and e-mail messages from librarians and library organizations objecting to the proposal, including a letter from the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association. Locke is the state's first Asian-American governor.