Public invited to comment on updating name of Joel Pritchard State Library

State Capitol committees accepting comments through Feb. 26

For inquiries:
communications@des.wa.gov
A view of the Joel Pritchard State Library's front side, which is mainly made of white stone with large glass walls. A fountain, a sundial, four metal park benches, and various green bushes are in front of the building.

The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (CCDAC) and State Capitol Committee (SCC) are accepting public comment on a proposal to change the name of the Joel Pritchard State Library to the Joel Pritchard Building. The committees will discuss the proposal and public comments at 3:30 p.m., Feb. 27.

The proposal was submitted to the committees (see page 97) in October 2024 by state Reps. Steve Tharinger (24th District) and Peter Abbarno (20th District). The building, which is undergoing a significant renovation and expansion as part of Legislative Campus Modernization, housed the Washington State Library until 2001.

How to submit comments

The public can submit comments by email to SCC-CCDACPublicComments@des.wa.gov until 4 p.m., Feb. 26.

People can also sign up to comment during the public meeting. Find the meeting information and materials.

What’s next

If the committees make a formal recommendation to the state Legislature to rename the building, the legislative sponsors will bring forward a concurrent resolution.

About building names on Capitol Campus

While the Legislature has ultimate naming authority, state law (RCW 43.34.090) calls for recommendations to come from CCDAC and SCC.

The law states that buildings on the Capitol Campus are eligible for naming or renaming:

  • When constructed.
  • After significant renovation.
  • When there is a change in the main tenant agency headquartered there.

Buildings can be named after:

  1. People who have played a significant role in Washington's history.
  2. The building’s purpose or agency using building.
  3. Significant Washington places.
  4. Native American tribes.
  5. Groups or types of people.

When naming or renaming buildings, the Legislature must consider:

  1. Gender disparity
  2. Diversity of human achievement
  3. Diversity of the state’s citizenry and history

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) provides administrative support to CCDAC and SCC, including facilitating the building naming process.

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The Department of Enterprise Services manages the daily care and long-term planning for the state’s 143-acre Capitol Campus, including the buildings, grounds, infrastructure, memorials and art works, and 260-acre Capitol Lake, which is being restored to an estuary. The Capitol Campus is the seat of Washington state government and welcomes more than 400,000 public visitors each year.

Related Links

Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (CCDAC)
State Capitol Committee (SCC)