Secretary of State Wyman signs the Declaration for the Right to Libraries in the Governor’s Conference Room.

Secretary of State Kim Wyman joined Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn in showing their support for Washington’s libraries by jointly signing a Declaration for the Right to Libraries in the Governor’s Conference Room Wednesday morning.

State Librarian Rand Simmons and 25 children, teacher-librarians and library officials were on hand for the signing event.

The declaration is a project of American Library Association “designed to build the public will and sustained support for America’s right to libraries of all types – academic, special, school and public.” The signing is a precursor to Library Legislative Day on Jan. 24 when public librarians and teacher-librarians (school libraries) will gather to inform state legislators of issues important to the provision of library service to Washingtonians. Librarians also will staff a table on the third floor of the Legislative Building to collect signatures supporting the Right to Libraries. For more information, go here.

The library declaration is a joint project of the Washington Library Media Association, the Washington Library Association and the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

A boy from the Olympia area shake’s Gov. Inslee’s hand just before the governor, Secretary Wyman and Superintendent of Public Instruction Dorn sign the declaration.