Washington State Library was the first American library north of the Columbia River. It was established by the passing of the Organic Act of the Territory of Washington on March 2, 1853. According to the Organic Act, the library was "to be kept at the seat of government." As the seat of government moved, so did the library. By 1917 the library was in the basement of the Temple of Justice where it remained until 1959. The Joel M. Pritchard Building (Pritchard Building) was built south of the Legislative Building and the library was moved into this building in 1959. Maryan E. Reynolds, State Librarian, was able to initiate and navigate all the hurdles that come with building a State building. WSL remained in the Pritchard Building until it was moved to its current home in Tumwater, WA in 2001. In February 2001, the Nisqually earthquake severely damaged many of the buildings, including WSL, on the Capitol Campus. By Sept. 2001, it was determined that WSL would move out of the Pritchard Building to make room for temporary offices during the renovations from the earthquake. WSL was scheduled to move to Tumwater, WA USA. On Sept. 19, 2001 the WSL staff held a formal wake for their departure from the building. WSL was decorated in a formal funeral design with white lilies, wreaths with black ribbons, black shrouds, and many old artifacts on display. There were a few musicians, plenty of food, and speeches were made. In Dec. 2001 the Governor announced that he favored closing WSL which shocked the WSL staff into action. They began educating the governor, legislators and the public on the roles of the library. In early 2002, the Sec. of State, Sam Reed and his chief of staff, Steve Excell, had become champions of WSL. They traveled the State promoting WSL and the need for it to stay open. By March 2002 support began to come from all of the world. The State Legislature passed a bill moving WSL from the Library Commission and governor to the Office of Secretary of State, which preserved WSL from closure. The WSL went about changing and transforming its mission and reinvigorating the library's leadership role as the library's library
From the description of Draft, dynamics of change, and source materials, 1947-2006. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 244576181
