The Friends of the Centralia Timberland Library are hosting a special public meeting featuring a question-and-answer session with members of the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) Board of Trustees on Saturday, April 11, at 11:30 a.m. at the Centralia Timberland Library in the meeting room.
The event, held in conjunction with the Friends’ quarterly meeting, will include Board President Brian Mittge and Trustee Hal Blanton, who will take questions from the public regarding the current state of the library system.
Both trustees represent Lewis County on TRL’s Board of Trustees.
This meeting is open to the public and community members from across the five county TRL district are encouraged to attend.
The Q&A session will take place at the beginning of the meeting to allow broader participation.
The session comes at a critical time for the library system, following the announcement of a nearly $4 million budget deficit in January 2026.
In response to growing public concern, this event represents the first time the Board of Trustees has engaged in a public question-and-answer format outside of formal public comment since the announcement.
By hosting this open dialogue, the Friends of the Centralia Timberland Library hope to foster an effort between TRL and the various Friends groups to increase transparency, strengthen communication, and engage more directly with the communities they serve.
“We know there are many questions and concerns right now,” said Hallie Ralls, President of the Friends of the Centralia Timberland Library. “This is an opportunity for community members to engage directly with Trustees and to be part of a meaningful conversation about the future of our libraries.”
The Friends of the Centralia Timberland Library welcome attendees from all Timberland communities and encourage ongoing collaboration and dialogue during this challenging period.
The Friends of the Centralia Timberland Library is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that supports library programs, resources, and community outreach through fundraising and advocacy. To stay up to date on their activities, follow them on Facebook.
