The world’s coolest library is about to become infinitely less cool.

I’ve known for a while that this was coming. Libraries, like hermit crabs, have to change their shells every so often. But crabs get bigger shells, not smaller ones. When I voted to join the county system, I didn’t think we’d be fobbed off with a smaller building, and I feel like I have been bait-and-switched.

Librarians have assured me that it’s the meeting room and processing area that is not needed any more, that we will still have plenty of room. But I don’t feel so sure. I don’t see us needing fewer books or computers in the future; quite the reverse.

I’m going to need some convincing that we can stuff just as much library [or more] into one-third less space. I hope that some way of making the new building bigger, even if this is some years ahead, can be found.

That, and a live cam or two for keeping an eye on the river.

Kerrick Mainrender

Renton