Timberland Library Workers

Tag: Press Release

  • Timberland Library workers support levy lid to prevent service disruptions, sustain saved jobs

    Timberland Library workers support levy lid to prevent service disruptions, sustain saved jobs

    Union workers in the Timberland Regional Library system won the battle to save 36 staff positions earlier this year. A levy lid lift to prevent service disruptions is next on their docket.

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/5/2026

    MEDIA CONTACT: Rowan Herbst Minino, , (425) 312-5995

    Tumwater, WA — In April, Timberland Library workers gained enough public support for library leadership to rescind 36 layoff notices to staff. Now, AFSCME Local 3758, representing library workers, is rallying public support for a levy lid lift on the Nov. 3 ballot. Brent Caron, president of Local 3758 said without the levy, libraries will have to reduce open and staffed hours across the district.


    “Patrons would likely see further reduced branch hours,” Caron said. “The collection would continue to diminish, causing wait times for holds to continue to get longer.”
    The library levy rate on the ballot is $0.35 per $1000 of property value. Levy funding makes up 96% of the library’s budget, and Timberland has not had a full levy rate since 2001.


    “The library has done more with less for 25 years, but it is no longer possible to keep up with rising costs and continue meeting the needs of our communities,” Korinne Bisig, a member of Local 3758, said.


    Aside from ramping up their social media presence, Local 3758 members have attended events by the Yes for Libraries campaign, created a collection of stories from community members who love their libraries, maintained a weekly newsletter with updates about the levy, and collaborated with local performers and artists to promote the campaign. Most recently, Robin Winwood, an Olympia-based illustrator, was commissioned for a “Library Workers make Libraries Work!” illustration.


    Local 3758 and AFSCME Council 2 encourage a “YES” vote for libraries this November.
    “A small investment in your library system yields high fiscal and social returns for the community at large,” Rachel Saelid, vice president of Local 3758 said.


    Library Workers and Council 2 Staff are available for interviews. Please contact Rowan Herbst Minino at or (425) 312-5995 to schedule.


    The Washington State Council of County and City Employees, AFSCME Council 2, represents more than 16,000 employees who provide services to the citizens of Washington state. It is a democratic union providing a real voice for its members through active participation and professional representation.

  • Timberland Library Workers Union Reaffirms Support for Intellectual Freedom and LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Public Libraries

    Timberland Library Workers Union Reaffirms Support for Intellectual Freedom and LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Public Libraries

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/17/2026

    MEDIA CONTACT: Beth Gawne, (425) 312-4201

    TUMWATER, WA — AFSCME Council 2 Local 3758-B, the union representing most Timberland Regional Library (TRL) workers, denounces the list of “desired outcomes” for TRL written by Board of Trustees President Brian Mittge and the harmful views it expresses.

    As library workers, we are committed to protecting First Amendment rights and upholding core library values of intellectual freedom—the principle, as defined by the American Library Association, that “every person has the right to access information from all points of view, in all formats, and without restriction.” The fundamental purpose of public libraries is to provide access to information, ideas, and stories that represent the diverse needs and experiences of its community. We oppose any proposals that would restrict or remove access to books and materials based on the identities they represent. 

    Library workers are dedicated to ensuring the safety of young patrons. We encourage caregivers to be active participants as their children make choices about accessing library materials and activities. We uphold policies and guidelines regarding unattended children, teen spaces and internet use that are made to protect young people in our libraries. We present early learning storytimes that empower children and families with information about health, bodily autonomy, consent, identity, and more. Attempts to stigmatize and restrict information and services poses a tremendous risk to children’s safety and well-being. Libraries are critical resources for building safety into our communities. Free access to information keeps us safe.

    Public libraries are for everyone, including the most marginalized communities: those who are LGBTQIA+, unhoused, poor, disabled, young, immigrant, and Black and Indigenous people of color. Given the historic and ongoing discrimination targeting these populations, particularly the LGBTQIA+ community, we believe that library workers’ commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is essential. These community members are often the most dedicated library supporters, and we have a responsibility to provide a safe space for them and everyone else.

    At a time when TRL is working to rebuild from significant financial challenges, we continue to advocate for a strong, well-funded public library system. Efforts to restrict access to materials and undermine principles of intellectual freedom moves us in the wrong direction. Now it is more important than ever to secure increased funding through a levy lid lift, so that libraries across the five county district can continue to offer free access to affirming and often life-saving information and resources for all.

    We urge the TRL Board of Trustees to denounce the exclusion of our most marginalized community members and support a levy lid lift to reaffirm their commitment to protecting intellectual freedom, equitable access to information, and public libraries that serve everyone.  

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    Download a PDF of this press release here.