midgeling: life in a shoe.

Here is the newly remodeled Fairwood Library in Renton. The Fairwood Library is part of the King County Public Library System, and the KCLS kicks some serious ass. It has damn near every book, audiobood, CD or movie you could ever want. And if they don't have it, they will try to get it for you. You can browse the catalog, place holds, and even pay fines online. Every branch has free wireless. And in summer when it is 90 degrees and 90% humidity, they have AIR CONDITIONING and places for the kids to play with toys, read and play computer games. I love that place.

From 1999 to 2006, the Seattle Public Library System has paid KCLS $104,000 annually to cover cross-use of KCLS materials. If a Seattle resident needed something from KCLS, KCLS would send it to a Seattle library for the patron to check out. A study done in 2005 showed that about $1 million in services were actually being used by the city of Seattle. KCLS was initially set up to serve the people of King County who were not granted access to the Seattly Public Library Syste. So understandably, KCLS has discontinued cross-use with the Seattle Public Library System until a more fair solution could be reached.

I love the city of Seattle. It has so much to offer. But I would never live there. Between King County Fascist Exec Ron Sims (aka King Sims), the battle over the Seattle Supersonics (probably) leaving, how to best replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the rapidly declining Seattle Public School system, I have no desire to move into the Seattle city limits at all. It's the burbs for me and my family.

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Lexa's Preschool phrase of the day: "I am 4 1/2 inches tall! Besides, I am 3 years old."