Collage of library staff answering questions through the Ask a Librarian service along with the program logo.
Ask a Librarian: your friendly neighborhood state-government resource

Ask a Librarian: your friendly neighborhood state-government resource

How often have you heard someone tell you the information you are looking for is “on our website,” only to give up looking because you could not find it?

More than likely quite often. Unfortunately, however, and despite the best of intentions, government agencies are not always immune to this issue.

Over 190 agencies comprise Washington state government. Thousands of Washingtonians visit their websites every day, often for urgent reasons — whether to make an appointment, pay a fee, or obtain a permit — and need quick and easy access to information. For those who find what they are looking for, sometimes the information contains complex jargon and legalese most people do not understand.

Fortunately there is a solution: Ask a Librarian!

The librarians at Washington State Library (WSL) can help you find the government information you need. We have years of experience navigating state agency websites, and we can steer you toward the right agency, ferret out that important detail you might have skimmed, or simply confirm you are calling the right number. We can refer you to local- and federal-government resources as appropriate, and we specialize in walking people through government websites that may, at first glance, seem unintuitive. With Ask a Librarian, you can reach us by phone or live chat (during business hours), or send an email directly from our site anytime.

Screen image of the Ask a Library website user portal.
Screen image of the Ask a Librarian website user portal.

Our librarians are trained to lend an attentive, compassionate ear when helping people who do not know where to go or who to call, or whose searches for government information have gone astray. In addition, they can answer questions about state history, culture, genealogy, and more. Washington State Library has an extensive collection of Washington newspapers, state and federal publications, and other resources.

Mary Schaff, Northwest Librarian at Washington State Library, responds to a customer via Ask a Librarian’s Live Chat feature.
Mary Schaff, Northwest Librarian at Washington State Library, responds to a customer via Ask a Librarian’s Live Chat feature.
Judy Pitchford, Central Library Operations Coordinator at Washington State Library, helps a customer who called WSL’s Ask a Librarian service.
Judy Pitchford, Central Library Operations Coordinator at Washington State Library, helps a customer who called WSL’s Ask a Librarian service.

So whether you are a customer searching for that one particular piece of government information, a librarian assisting a patron who needs a helping hand or second opinion, or a state agency employee who wants to know more about our reference and referral services, the librarians at Washington State Library are here to help.

Ask a Librarian today!

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