Timberland Regional Library Joins MasonEDC Membership!
Mason County, WA – May 5, 2025 – The Timberland Regional Library (TRL) system is more than just a place to check out books—it’s a vital hub for information, opportunity, and community development. Serving over 550,000 residents across Mason, Pacific, Thurston, Lewis, and Grays Harbor counties, TRL is committed to providing free access to books, online resources, and public spaces that foster lifelong learning, digital literacy, and economic opportunity.
While TRL operates 29 libraries across the region, Mason County is home to three branches: Shelton Timberland Library (right across the street from the MasonEDC), Belfair’s North Mason Timberland Library, and Hoodsport Timberland Library. The Hoodsport library features expanded access hours from 7 AM to 8 PM daily including holidays —whether staff are present or not.
Supporting Entrepreneurs, Students, and Job Seekers
TRL’s impact stretches far beyond its walls. Entrepreneurs can tap into free small business resources like sample business plans, market research databases (such as Data Axle Reference Solutions), and Gale Legal Forms for Washington State. All library cardholders receive $44 in free monthly printing credits.
Job seekers benefit from resume builders, job search workshops, free Wi-Fi from 6 AM to midnight, and access to digital learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Universal Class—offering hundreds of courses on professional development, business skills, and technical certifications.
Through partnerships with workforce development organizations like PacMtn, TRL’s 29 libraries are Connection Sites in the WorkSource system, helping employers and job seekers access services. As one of the major partners in the region, TRL is also helping to promote PacMtn’s new Opportunity Begins Here: Empowering Local Talent, Strengthening Regional Industries regional initiative.
A Key Player in Economic Development
TRL’s decision to join the Mason County Economic Development Council reflects their belief that libraries are critical parts of every community’s economic ecosystem. As TRL staff shared, “Nobody is an island—economic development is about working together to improve quality of life, including economic lives.”
By offering space for WorkSource staff, helping employers and job seekers connect through dedicated platforms, and serving as a digital literacy launchpad, TRL contributes meaningfully to rural economic vitality. Their work is especially crucial in communities like Mason County, where access to technology, learning, and business support services can be a game-changer.
Adapting to Community Needs
Over the past several years, TRL has worked hard to meet the evolving needs of its communities. Expanded access hours at 12 libraries, remote printing services, upgraded meeting rooms (including Shelton's renovated space available for public reservation at no cost), Anywhere Library mobile services, and enhanced online services like LibChat (live librarian support 10 AM – 3 PM Monday – Saturday at TRL.org) have made libraries more accessible than ever.
New initiatives like online library card registration, targeted digital literacy training (through platforms like Northstar Digital Literacy), and creative programming (adult storytimes, book clubs at correctional centers, Bob Ross painting classes, and more) are reshaping the traditional image of the library into something modern, flexible, and indispensable.
A Culture of Joy, Service, and Possibility
If you ask TRL staff to describe their organization in three words, you’ll hear: passionate, joyful, and helpers. The spirit behind their service shines through in everything they do—from helping a small business owner craft their first business plan, to providing a student with reliable Wi-Fi to finish a class project, to hosting whimsical community events that inspire creativity.
In TRL’s own words, they truly offer "something for everyone." Whether you're dreaming of starting a business, building new job skills, connecting to your community, or simply looking for your next favorite read—Timberland Regional Library is here to help.
