WHEREAS, Maryan Reynolds served as Washington's State Librarian for
24 years, from l951 to l975, under Governors Langlie, Rosellini, and
Evans, and was passionately dedicated to disseminating knowledge and to
fighting steadfastly to bring needed library and information services
to people throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, As a result of her skillful and energetic leadership, the
Washington State Library became one of the foremost state libraries in
the nation, meeting the challenges of cutting edge technology as
American society began its transition from the hard-copy information
age to the electronic information age, and forging the establishment of
multicounty library systems to involve communities in bringing library
services to previously unserved or underserved areas; and
WHEREAS, She joined the State Library when it was crowded into the
basement of the Temple of Justice, causing her to initiate establishing
a separate, more appropriate State Library Building; and
WHEREAS, She brought to fruition an architectural award-winning
State Library Building, designed by the renowned Washington State
architect Paul Thiry, with displays of artwork by acclaimed Pacific
Northwest artists, Everett Du Pen, Kenneth Callahan, Mark Toby, John
Elliott, and James Fitzgerald, the building now named the Joel
Pritchard Building, that currently houses the temporary Senate Chambers
and other legislative offices while the Legislative Building is closed
for Nisqually Earthquake repairs and renovation; and
WHEREAS, She has been called the "pole star" and the "compass
point" for developing the state's library system by some, and the
"Mother Lion" of the state library by others. Still others have
described her as: A visionary, a dedicated library professional, an
exceptional leader and mentor, a team player, one who led the charge,
inspirational, having a brilliant imagination, compassionate, a
tough-as-nails fighter, a workhorse, respectful, a coalition builder,
strategic, one who inspired people to do their best, service-minded, a
person of integrity, prodigiously energetic, a tireless legislative
lobbyist, a clear thinker, a promoter of efficiency, a voracious
reader, a seeker and finder of opportunities, an educator, a
storyteller, an active family member, a caring friend with many deep
friendships, and in short, an amazing person; and
WHEREAS, Further reflecting her commitment to disseminating
knowledge, following her retirement, she wrote a book titled, "The
Dynamics of Change: A History of the Washington State Library" about
which, in his foreword to the book, former Governor Daniel Evans
stated, "... should be required reading for any serious student of
government"; and
WHEREAS, While Maryan Reynolds died of natural causes at the age of
91 on January 17, 2004, her legacy lives on in the institutions and
services she helped build, in the continuing dedication of those with
whom she worked, in the lives of those she inspired, and in the lives
of all Washingtonians who now, and in the future will benefit from all
she dreamed and all she achieved;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate celebrate the life
of former State Librarian Maryan Reynolds and recognize her devotion to
public service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to her family
members, to the State Library, to the Friends of the State Library, to
the Washington Library Association, the American Library Association,
the American Association of State Library Agencies, the Pacific
Northwest Library Association, the Olympia Branch of the American
Association of University Women, the State Capitol Historical
Association, and the Honorable Albert Rosellini and the Honorable Dan
Evans, former Governors of the State of Washington.