Effective July 1, 2025, the Washington State Library in Tumwater is closed to the public due to a loss of funding. Limited access will be available by appointment only on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. To request an appointment, please email [email protected].
The position of State Librarian, as it was with the Territorial Librarians, is politically appointed. Appointees from 1889 until 2001 served at the pleasure of the Governor. With the transfer of the Library unto the Office of the Secretary of State in 2001, they serve under the Secretary's discretion.
Sara Jones
2021 – Current
Sara Jones was appointed as the new Washington State Librarian on Feb. 16, 2021, after serving as the director of the Marin County Free Library since July 2013. Prior to her time in California, she held positions in Nevada libraries for 25 years, including serving as the Carson City Library Director, the Elko-Lander-Eureka County Library System Director and Youth Services Coordinator, and Nevada State Librarian and Administrator of the State Library and Archives from 2000-2007. She was named the Nevada Library Association's Librarian of the Year in 2012; served as Nevada's American Library Association (ALA) Council Delegate for four years; coordinated ALA National Library Legislative Day for Nevada for 12 years; served as the Nevada Library Association president; was an active member of the Western Council of State Libraries serving as both vice president and president; and served on the University of North Texas Department of Library and Information Sciences Board of Advisors for over 10 years. She was awarded the ALA Sullivan award for services to children in 2018. She is currently the president of CALIFA, a nonprofit library membership consortium. Sara has an MLS from Syracuse University, and has taught in the San Jose State University and University of North Texas LIS programs. Growing up in rural Idaho, Sara Jones and her family valued the library as a resource for discovering new information. In her time as a librarian, Jones enjoyed providing communities with equal access to knowledge. With an impressive resume and passion for libraries, Sara brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to lead our exceptional team at the Washington State Library and help expand and enhance our outreach and services throughout Washington state.
Sara can be reached at [email protected] or (360) 704-5276
Eleanor (Ellen) Sharp Stevenson (Acting), 1889 - 1890
Phillip Dorland Moore, 1890 – 1893
Lt. Colonel Franklin T. Gilbert, 1893 – 1895
George Alexander Kennedy, 1895 - 1897
Herbert C. Bashford, 1898 – 1901
Israel Putnam Callison, 1901 – 1902
Joseph A. Gabel, 1902 – 1904
Jesse Martin Hitt, 1905 - 1931
Alta Grim (Acting), 1931 – 1932
Mildred Pope, 1932 – 1934
Alta Grim (twice Acting), 1934 - Summer 1937
William Pierce Tucker, Summer 1937 – Fall 1941?
Alta Grim (thrice Acting), Fall 1941? - April 1942
Gretchen Schenk, August 1942 - May 1945
Carma Zimmerman, September 1945 - 1951
Maryan Reynolds, 1951 - 1975
Roderick Gardner Swartz, 1975 -1986
Nancy Zussy, 1986 - 2002
Jan Walsh, 2002 – 2010
Randall Simmons, 2010 – 2015
Greg Lane (Acting), 2015 – 2016
Cindy Altick Aden, 2016 – 2020
Sheri Nelson (Acting), 2020 – 2021
Sara Jones, 2021 – Current
In Washington State law, RCW 27.04.010 establishes the state library within the Office of the Secretary of State and RCW 27.04.045 outlines the duties of the State Librarian.
