A comprehensive review of official Board packets and Director's Reports from late 2025 reveals a system prioritized for centralized administration while experiencing a measurable decline in community engagement.

The most significant indicator of systemic failure is the erosion of the library’s geographic footprint.

• [cite_start]The Tieton Disconnection: The City of Tieton has officially opted out of renewing its service contract for 2026, passing a resolution to reimburse for services rather than maintain a full partnership[cite: 1, 3, 4].
• [cite_start]Precarious Renewals: While Granger, Mabton, and Naches renewed, they did so under a “three-year phased approach,” signaling a lack of long-term confidence in the current service model[cite: 3, 4].
• [cite_start]Leadership Absence: The Executive Director was noted as absent from the critical November Budget Public Hearing where these contract losses were finalized[cite: 4].

While management scrutinizes individual staff performance, the organization's broader performance indicators show a consistent downward trend.

• [cite_start]Attendance Deficit: Total attendance for the library system was 17.7% below the Fiscal Year-to-Date (FYTD) goal as of October 2025[cite: 1].
• [cite_start]Programming Misses: In September, programming attendance was 21.6% below the FYTD goal, reflecting a struggle to connect with the community through scheduled events[cite: 3].
• [cite_start]Digital Access Decline: Digital access hours were 6.9% below the FYTD goal, showing that even remote engagement is struggling under current strategies[cite: 1].

The 2026 budget priorities demonstrate a shift toward internal control and infrastructure rather than expanding public service.

• [cite_start]Capital Focus: A primary capital request for 2026 is $20,000 for camera replacements, justified by the fact that existing cameras are over a decade old[cite: 2, 4].
• [cite_start]Stalled Facilities Development: Beyond essential maintenance like LED lighting and security, the budget shows “little activity” in capital projects for branch enhancement[cite: 4].
• [cite_start]Carry Forward Surplus: There is approximately $1.22 million in carry-forward funds for the Yakima Central Library (YCL), indicating that the library has significant resources it is choosing not to deploy for immediate service improvements[cite: 2, 4].