The Washington State Library will have a new leader this fall.
Melody Sky Weaver was recently appointed by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. As state librarian, Weaver will administer grants, serve on national and regional library boards and work with federal partners to help meet the needs of Washington’s libraries.
Weaver also wants to move the collection from Tumwater to a more visible location in Olympia. It has been located in Tumwater since 2001, after the Nisqually Earthquake damaged the Olympia building it was housed in.
The library archives newspapers, government documents, genealogical records, and a collection of historic records.
"Our incredible territorial collection right now is in a vault that not many people get to see," Weaver said, referring to a collection that predates Washington statehood.
The state library operates as a department under the Washington Secretary of State’s Office. Access to those documents and the state library building has been limited since last year due to budget cuts. Members of the public need an appointment to access it. Those appointments are available from 1-4 p.m. on Thursdays.
"These shouldn't be our best-kept secret,” Weaver said. “I really want to make sure that our state residents can feel great pride in the collection that we have, and they have to be able to see it. It has to be showcased in a great location."
One of Weaver’s goals is to restore the library’s roughly $12 million budget, which she said would be easier to do if the building was located in Olympia.
"We need to be present where the legislators are and to be able to serve the public employees of the state of Washington,” Weaver said. “And for the public to have a library, a state library that they feel proud of and that they can visit."
Along with maintaining its collection, the state library also operates the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, and locations inside Western State Hospital and state prisons.
Weaver has a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington. She described herself as a “very extroverted, gregarious person,” with a background in fine arts, including metal work and mixed media.
“I’ve loved libraries, but I actually thought I was a little too loud of a person to be a librarian,” Weaver said.
She has managed library branches in Kitsap County and Port Townsend. Most recently, she worked for the City of Port Townsend as the community services director, overseeing parks, arts programs and the city’s library.
Through her art, Weaver tried to bring people together to make a difference and share resources.
“That’s what libraries do,” she said. “I started my career in libraries as a children’s librarian. I firmly believe that if you can hold the interest of a group of toddlers, you can do anything.”
Weaver came from what she calls an “artsy family.” Her middle name, Sky, comes from her mother, Cornelia Eby, who is a philosopher and poet. She wanted her daughter to know the sky was the limit. Weaver’s father, Ed Eby, played trombone for jazz bands like The Buddy Rich Band. He wanted his daughter to have a musical name, hence Melody.
“I was his little Melody,” Weaver said.
Weaver starts the job on Oct. 1. She replaces Sara Jones, who retired in July. Jones was appointed to the position in 2021.
