State Librarian Jan Walsh smiles about a story during a brown-bag lunch event. Sitting next to Jan are State Elections Director Nick Handy (middle) and Dave Ammons, Communications Director for the Office of Secretary of State.

During her 38 years in the profession, including the past eight as Washington State Librarian, Jan Walsh has seen libraries change with the times, going from an era dependent on card catalogs to today’s Internet-based setup.

“Technology has been huge in libraries,” Walsh remarked as guest speaker during a brown-bag lunch event at the State Library in Tumwater. That has been especially true for the State Library, she noted. “Kids no longer have to come to Olympia if they’re doing a history project. There’s a lot of information available online that wasn’t available to them before.”

During her hour-long talk spanning her career, the retiring State Librarian noted how public services at the State Library have improved dramatically over the years. When her career there began in 1972, the State Library had a reputation of catering more to the needs of the Legislature and state government than the general public. That impression no longer exists, she said, pointing out the strong emphasis on public access to state history and genealogical resources, as well as public resource tools like Ask-WA, Renew Washington and the historic newspaper program.

Go to the State Library’s homepage to see all of its services for yourself.

Jan told Monday’s gathering about the budget ups and downs that the State Library has experienced during her tenure there. In 1991, the State Library system included 29 institutional libraries (such as those at correctional facilities and schools for the developmentally disabled). Now, that is down to 12.

The volatile budget situation was never more evident than in the past year, as the State Library had to lay off 31 employees. Over the past 10 years, the State Library’s budget has shrunk 36.4 percent and its staff level has been reduced 51 percent.

“It’s amazing what we’ve done with not very much money but a lot of willpower,” Walsh pointed out.

As for the current state of libraries, Walsh said they will become more important to people who want good information. “A virtual library is going to be critical.” She said she’s saddened by “the practical demise of school libraries.”

Walsh noted that big box book stores haven’t been as huge of a threat to libraries as some feared, but she admitted that e-books could be a problem for them.

Although Walsh is retiring as State Librarian at the end of August, she plans to remain involved with the library community.

“I’ve chosen to leave working in libraries, not leaving libraries.”

State Library Program Manager Rand Simmons has been named acting State Librarian after Walsh retires at the end of August.