State budget proviso looks likely to restore funding for Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, SPL says
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Summary
Kirsten Nelson told the committee a legislator (Representative Thomas) put a proviso in both the House and Senate budgets to fund the Talking Book and Braille Library; the proviso appears likely but would not fully restore the program to the original $5 million request.
Kirsten Nelson, SPL’s government relations lead, updated the committee on state‑level funding for the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library. Nelson said Representative Thomas (who represents West Seattle) introduced a proviso to restore funding, and that provisos for talking book and braille have been included in both the House and Senate budgets to date.
Nelson said the funding outlook is positive but noted the proviso is smaller than the original $5 million request: "It will be pretty significantly funded... I think the original amount that the state library was asking for a total of $5,000,000 and the proviso itself is for, like, 3.8 maybe, somewhere around there," she said. Nelson said the proviso focuses on talking book and braille services and that SPL and its advocates met with lawmakers in Olympia to press for funding.
Councilmembers welcomed the update and asked whether the proviso would restore service levels fully; Nelson said it would be "pretty significantly funded" but that some requested services were not included in the proviso.
SPL staff thanked Representative Thomas and noted continued advocacy work with the foundation and friends to secure state support.