Yes. Our microfilm readers can print articles. You can also export articles as a JPEG or PDF file to a flash drive.
Several of our oldest newspapers have been scanned and indexed and are available online at Washington Digital Newspapers.
Most of our newspapers are only available on microfilm. You can come to the State Library and view them, or if your local library has a microfilm reader, you can request them through interlibrary loan. If you would like to know more about our newspaper collection, visit our Newspaper LibGuide.
We can answer specific questions about your own research, such as looking up a death date, but we are not able to research your family for you. Here is a link to our Ask a Librarian page.
If further research is required, please contact the Washington State Genealogical Society or professional registries such as the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Our collections are quite different. The Washington State Archives holds items that were filed with or created by state agencies, such as business, court, prison, school, assessor, and auditor records. You can browse their collections on their website or contact them for more information.
The Washington State Library holds documents published by state and federal agencies, along with a large collection of newspapers on microfilm, city and county histories, and publications from local Washington State genealogical societies. All these materials and more can be found in our online catalog.
Currently, we have a few resources for British Columbia, Oregon, and Idaho in our collection. These include several newspapers, early state directories, as well as publications from local genealogical societies. All these items are listed in our online catalog.
We have a large collection of city directories at the State Library. We have local newspapers and maps, which can be helpful in researching a house or property.
The Washington State Archives however, has many other resources to assist in researching your house. They have assessor records, auditor records, and tax records for many counties. You can contact the Washington State Archives Branch/Repository that serves the county you are interested in for further information.