Tonight I emailed the candidates for city council, asking where they stood on building a new library in Olympia. I've been thinking about the races the last few weeks, and whether a candidate belives we should build a new library in Olympia is the most important issue for me right now.

Here's the letter:

I’m emailing all of the city of Olympia candidates to get your feedback on the most important issue for me in this upcoming city election. When can Olympia build a new library?

For me, building a new library for Olympia is our largest unmet need.I am a member of both the Timberland Regional Library board  trustees and the board of the Friends of the Olympia Library. But, I am not representing either of these organizations in this inquiry. I have also posted this letter on olyblog.net and will post your response there.

I understand that the city government doesn't necessarily need to fund a new library for one to be built (through tools like a library capital facility area), so I'm not asking you to make a public commitment to fund a library. But I do want to find out where you place the library on the list of projects to be completed.

For more information and an opportunity to directly contribute to a new library, the Friends of the Olympia Library has some information on their building fund here: http://www.olympiafriends.com/building-fund/

Thanks very much for your involvement and your contributions to our city,

Emmett O'Connell

 Here are some of the reasons Olympia needs a new library (via the Friends):

Northern/the Olympia All Ages Project and the Olympia Timberland Library are bringing Zines on Toast, an evening of entertainment and information with zine writers from the UK (United Kingdom) and Alex Wrekk from Portland. Hear accounts of the London zine symposium, UK zine tours, vegan mass catering, UK social centers, revolt, punkrock, anarchy and more (www.zinesontoast.org). The event is at Northern, 321 4th Ave., Olympia on Wednesday, September 1 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Excerpts from the Website::

Alex Wrekk lives in Portland, Oregon. She is the author of Brainscan zine and the DIY zine resource book, Stolen Sharpie Revolution. She volunteers with various self publishing projects and is a long time organizer of the Portland Zine Symposium. Wrekk went on a UK zine tour in 2009 and convinced the people she met to tour the US this year. www.smallworldbuttons.com | brainscan.etsy.com

Novella Carpenter will read from her hilarious and informative memoir "Farm City: the Education of an Urban Farmer." Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. "'Farm City' is a consistently involving book that includes one of the purest expressions of happiness I’ve read in a while." -Dwight Garner, New York Times Book Review.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Olympia Timberland Library.
Note: this is an after hours program, no regular library services will be available during the event.

Novella's blog: Ghost Town Farm
Timberland's website

Authors Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett will read excerpts from their new book, “Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel,” an illustrated history told through the adventures of Boilerplate, a robot invented in 1893 by Professor Archibald Campion. Find out the story of this nineteenth century technological wonder at the Olympia Timberland Library on Saturday, May 8 at 2 p.m. Accompanied by a slide show, the presenters will touch on historical events such as the World's Columbian Exposition, women's suffrage, the Klondike Gold Rush, and the Spanish American War as well as Boilerplate’s part in all of them. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

Husband-and-wife team Guinan and Bennett have been collaborating in print since 1989. Together they created the groundbreaking science fiction series Heartbreakers. In 1998 they launched their web site, www.BigRedHair.com, which became the birthplace of Boilerplate. Their 2005 graphic novel Heartbreakers Meet Boilerplate was nominated for an Eisner Award for Guinan’s innovative art. Boilerplate’s Web site is www.BoilerplateRobot.com. An avid history buff, Guinan has garnered international acclaim as the world’s foremost authority on nineteenth-century robots. His favorite experiences are those that simulate time travel. Bennett, first published at age 15, went on to pen five Heartbreakers graphic novels; coauthor The Art of Comic Book Inking, now an industry standard; and write reviews, articles, and interviews for various periodicals. She is a founding board member of Friends of Lulu, a nonprofit organization that works to get more women involved in comics.

Meet local artist and author, Nikki McClure, at an open house at the library. McClure will read her latest children's book "Mama, Is it Summer Yet?" at 1 and 2 p.m. in the library atrium, with book signings following each reading. The book will be available for purchase. Nikki's previous book, "All in a Day," is a 2010 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association award winner. Original art work from the new book will be on display at Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters on 516 Capital Way S. from April 22 to May 5.

Nikki's website
Timberland website

"The Collector: David Douglas and the Natural History of the Northwest" explores the interactions of the early Scottish naturalist with the landscape and culture of our region. The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association recently named "The Collector" one of their 2010 Books of the Year. Jack Nisbet is a Spokane-based author, teacher, and naturalist.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Olympia Timberland Library. The library is normally closed at this time and is only open for the program.

Timberland Regional Library site
Jack Nisbet's site

Quinault historian Harvest Moon brings two great talents—traditional basket weaving and storytelling—in her presentation, “Wisdom, Weaving, Songs and Legends.” A freeperformance will be held at the Olympia Timberland Library on Tuesday, April 13 from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.

Wearing head-to-toe button blanket regalia, Harvest Moon tells stories such as “The Creation of the Mosquitoes” and “Why it Rains so Much.” The stories are carefully woven with wisdom in order to entertain while imparting morals, history and respect.

As her fingers transform natural materials into an intricate basket, Harvest Moon sings Coastal Salish songs that transition a weaver into what is called the “Basket World.” She also shows some simple indigenous instruments that have been made for the program.

Harvest Moon has presented to one-quarter of a million people of all ages. She has woven over a thousand baskets in the last 31 years and has spent the last 21 years telling stories and teaching the rich cultural history of the Coastal Salish people. She lives in Olympia.

The Olympia Timberland Library is at 313 8th Avenue SE, Olympia. The program is a Humanities Washington Inquiring Mind presentation. The nonprofit organization’s Web site is www.humanities.org. For more information, contact the library at (360) 352-0595 or go to www.TRL.org.

“Make/shift Reclamation: New Feminist Art and Activism,” a live multimedia performance touring the Pacific Northwest, will be at the Olympia Timberland Library on Wednesday, March 31 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. The presentation showcases how contemporary, social-justice conscious feminists are resisting and creating alternatives to not only gender-based oppression but also a collapsing economic system, climate crisis, racism and more.

The program features live readings, performances and video works. Artists and activists include Jessica Hoffmann, coeditor/co-publisher of the nationally-acclaimed magazine, make/shift; Hilary Goldberg, an experimental filmmaker; and others including local activists who have created original film and audio works. Go to www.makeshiftreclamation.com for more details.

Critically acclaimed author Melissa Febos will read from and discuss "Whip Smart: A Memoir" on Monday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Olympia Timberland Library.Copies of the book, published this month will be available for purchase and signing. The program is intended for adults.

Febos grew up on Cape Cod. Dropping out of high school at 15, she taught herself for a year then moved to Boston and began taking night classes. In 1999, she graduated from the New School University in New York. During the next four years, while earning an MFA in writing from Sarah Lawrence College, she worked as a professional dominatrix in a Manhattan “dungeon,” physically and verbally humiliating men and supporting a drug habit. Reviewers find the book both honest and excruciating. Terry Gross, host of the Peabody Award-winning radio program, Fresh Air, interviewed Febos last week.

Febos teaches writing and literature at SUNY Purchase College and The Gotham Writers’ Workshop. She is co-curator and host of the Mixer Reading and Music Series on the Lower East Side of New York. Her essays, stories and articles have been published widely. More information is at her Web site, www.melissafebos.com.

This is a two day event!

Day 1
The Art of Small Press Publishing: an Evening with Local Authors
Friday, March 19, 5:30-7pm
This two-day event celebrates and examines the world of small press publishing. Friday night, local authors will read from their work and answer questions. On Saturday, a panel will discuss small press from multiple perspectives. A selection of small press merchandise will be available for purchase. Friday night: authors Skie Bender, with musical accompaniment by Kevin Jacobs, Derek Ryan Hain, Adam Jessup, Ray Maeda, Tony Perkins, and Sarah Tavis with musical accompaniment by Letters.

Day 2
The Art of Small Press Publishing: a Panel Discussion
Saturday, March 20, 2-4pm
On day two of the Art of Small Press, a panel will discuss and answer questions about small press from multiple perspectives. Panelists: Joshua James Amberson of Ms. Valerie Park Distro; Matthew Green of Olympia Power & Light newspaper; Carol Hannum of the Olympia Book Arts Society; Jami Heinricher of the Sherwood Press; Jacob McMurray of Payseur & Schmidt Publishers; and Jessica Spring of Springtide Press. There will be a selection of small press merchandise for sale.