402 Tacoma Avenue S., Suite 200 TACOMA, WA 98402 PHONE (253) 627-4853 FAX (253) 627-2253
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012
Vol. CXXIII, No. 196
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
Tacoma Public Library rolls out new catalog/circulation system Oct. 24 The Tacoma Public Library announced Monday it will roll out its new catalog and circulation system later this month. According to library officials, the new system allows visitors to find books, movies, articles and more with one search; easily access downloadable AudioBooks and eBooks; refine searches to find exactly what visitors want; search what is currently on the shelf; and place a hold on an item that is currently checked out or on order. It also allows parents to view reading levels for the books their kids read. The new system also allows online library users to find out when items are due back and renew on-line; save reading histories; create lists of titles for research or future reading or listening; sign up for SMS (text) alerts on mobile devices; and make a recommendation that the library purchase an item. Eventually, library patrons will be able to pay library fines online. Library staff began training on the new catalog and circulation system last month. The main library downtown will be closed on Mon., Oct. 22 and Tues,, Oct. 23 to allow staff to train on the new system. All libraries will be closed on Tues., October 23 as the switch is made from the old catalog to the new catalog. The new system will be implemented on Weds., Oct. 24. Library officials will host free classes to introduce patrons to the new library catalog and circulation system. Attendees will explore the new catalog and find out if the library has purchased the works of a favorite author, a recent movie, or a popular compact disc. The classes also cover the basic skills needed to use the catalog either from home or in your local library. The classes will be held in the computer classroom at the main library downtown, located at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South, on Weds., Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 27 at 3 p.m.; and Tues., Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m. Advance registration required. You can register online at tpl.lib. wa.us/ or by calling (253) 292-2001.
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Tacoma could move closer to every-other-week garbage collection Photo Courtesy City of Tacoma City of Tacoma officials will once again take up the issue of every-other-week garbage collection this week at City Hall. On Wednesday, Tacoma Public Works staff are scheduled to ask members of Tacoma City Council's environment and public works committee to recommend approving a proposed resolution that would allow the city to begin phasing in the every-otherweek program over the course of a year beginning in January, with actual changes to customer containers and frequency beginning next March. The plan also requires hiring 21 temporary employees for up to 14 months in order to exchange the garbage containers for every residential customer served by Solid Waste Management and work on "knock-andtalk" public outreach teams. City officials estimate that switching to everyother-week garbage collection will reduce the cost of the residential garbage collection program by between $900,000 and nearly $1.3 million per year. However, the one-time costs to implement the program would total nearly $1.7 million, in addition to $2.2 million to purchase containers. Tacoma's solid waste utility conducted a sixmonth pilot program between July 20, 2011 through Feb. 15, 2012, that included one collection route in
the North on Monday and a second in the South on Wednesday to determine the benefits and challenges of every-other-week garbage collection. In January, Public Works staffed briefed city council's environment and public works committee on the results of the pilot project. "The results of the [pilot project] indicate that significant cost savings and an increase in waste diversion can be realized by switching to [every-other-week] garbage collection service," wrote Tacoma Public Works Director Richard E. McKinley in an April 25 memo to City Manager T. C. Broadnax. McKinley also noted the start-up costs associated with the program. "As a majority of our customers' container sizes would need to be changed, the logistics of that exchange project will be a very large temporary operation," wrote McKinley. "In addition, performing 'knock and talks' across our customer base and managing accounts will be very labor intensive." Still, McKinley added, "The long-term cost savings, increased choices to our customers, and environmental considerations are all very strong arguments for program implementation. Tacoma City Council was briefed on the plan during a study session in May. More information about every-other-week garbage collection in Tacoma is online at cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=16803. If the council committee approves a "do pass" recommendation this week, a resolution would be forwarded to the full city council for final approval. The council committee meeting is scheduled to discuss the issue during its meeting on Weds., Oct. 10 at 4:30 p.m. in Tacoma Municipal Building North, 733 Market Street, Conference Room 16. A copy of the agenda and meeting materials are available online at cms.cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/Files/ CouncilCommittees/Agendas/2012/EPWAgenda/ EPW_20121010.pdf.