Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

EDIT: Just called down there, the exact dates of the closure are October 6 until December 14. Can't wait until after the remodel, should be cool.

From the staff report discussing the city spending $60,000 on a carpet replacement at the library (which the library district will repay):

...the City and Timberland Regional Library have several projects already planned for the library building, including carpet replacement, installation of a new information desk and a new circulation desk, the addition of a new sit-down desk for people receiving library cards, new seating and tables in the atrium below the skylights, cleaning of public computer workstations and removal of an underground storage tank, in which the facility will be closed to the public for up to two months.

I've heard a bit about this closure before (not sure about the dates), but apparently, you'll still be able to pick up and drop off books, but the library itself (shelves and all) will be shut down for awhile.

More from the staff report:

Discover the enjoyment of combining captions, titles, or journal entries with images. You’ll survey the digital options of online photoblogs, scrapbooks and slide shows, and practice captioning and titling images from cameras, online, old albums, etc. Please register at the library or by calling (360) 352-0595 beginning March 25.

[via omjp]

Born in Finland and currently living in Seattle, Silja J.A. Talvi is an investigative journalist who will be reading from, answering questions about, and signing copies of her book (that Orca Books will be on hand selling)...

Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in the U.S. Prison System

As the author puts it herself, "... I did not want to produce yet another book that relies primarily on the writings and studies of inhabitants of the 'free world,' as prisoners put it. Where appropriate, I do weave in expert findings and insights, but it is absolutely my contention that there are no individuals more insightful and informed about the realities of female incarceration than prisoners themselves."

This event, like all library events, is free.

Saturday, March 15th
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Olympia Timberland Library
313 8th Ave SE
(360) 352-0595

more on the author here

At Bread and Roses, we are building a street library so that houseless folks can have regular access to books as well as a place to sit and read them. This will be in conjunction with our developing literacy and GED programs. There is a book drop off point in Cafe Vita.

I saw this by Rob Richards in the Book exchange thread and I want to help publicize it. A street library is an excellent idea.

Plus as the weather warms it is time for spring cleaning. We can clear out books in good shape that we don't need anymore, help out the library, and free up more room for ourselves. We all win.

Bread and Roses