2024 WA State Candidate Statements

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Libraries serve as invaluable hubs in Washington State communities, providing access to information, resources, and educational opportunities for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. However, like many essential institutions, libraries face a myriad of challenges and opportunities for improvement.

The Washington Library Association Legislative and Advocacy Committees crafted and sent surveys with the questions below to all statewide general election candidates. The survey aimed to gather candidates' perspectives on key issues affecting libraries and to explore how they envisioned addressing these concerns if elected to office. Responses are available in the links above to our membership and supporters, to help increase their awareness and education on candidate positions that may have an impact on their local communities.

Candidates for WA General Election Positions were asked to answer the following questions for their candidate statement:

• How have you used and supported libraries in your personal and professional experience?
• What role do you envision public libraries playing in improving the lives of your constituents, and how will you ensure they are adequately funded and supported?
• What connection do you see between libraries and informed citizens, healthy democracies, and the dissemination of accurate information within Washington state?
• How will you promote digital equity and ensure that libraries receive funding to close the digital divide, considering their decades-long experience in digital work?
• How will you work to increase student access to strong school library programs staffed by qualified Teacher-Librarians?
• Libraries continue to see decreased funding for collections especially in rural and underserved areas. Presently, the state does not play any role in providing funds to public libraries. Would you support the creation of a state fund to provide money for public libraries’ collections?

Candidates for the Superintendent of Public Instruction position were asked to answer the following questions for their candidate statement:

• Are you aware that a Teacher-Librarian is a certificated teacher with specific training in how to run a quality school-library program? 
• Are you aware of the significant benefits of quality school library programs and teacher-librarians for student learning and achievement? 
• How would you, as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, help increase student access to quality school library programs with qualified teacher-librarians?
• What steps would you take to ensure equitable access to digital technology and information?
• Would you support a position at OSPI to oversee and support quality school library programs with teacher-librarians? 
• Are you willing to help ensure a dual pathway so people who need a master’s degree in library sciences and their teaching credential can become a teacher-librarian in a shorter period of time?
• How would you address attempts to ban books, specifically in school libraries?

Thank you to all of the 2024 WA Elections Candidates who participated in our Library Advocacy Survey!