How do I love my local public library? Let me count the ways.

The great, smart, public spirited, hardworking people at the Monroe County Public Library aren't letting budget blues or holiday overload get them down -- instead they're keeping up great public service, like this online display of books by writers who will appear at the upcoming Key West Literary Seminar (spaces still open for the second session! free Sunday afternoon sessions both weekends!). My man Christopher, owner of the increasingly essential Voltaire Books, just stopped by and told me they have books by all the seminar writers -- what a great Christmas gift! And if that's not enough reason to love this library, here's another: Saturday is the season's first book sale in the Palm Garden. Woo hoo! Lord knows I don't need more books in my house but these are still irresistible bargains for any bibliophile (and you never know when you might find, say, a signed first edition Elizabeth Bishop in there). It has happened. As a weekday gal, it's also good to see these events back on Saturdays.

DFW RIP

Over the weekend, the world learned that writer David Foster Wallace hanged himself on Friday at his home in California. I haven't read his mammoth novel Infinite Jest -- and I doubt I ever will just because I almost never commit that kind of time and attention to a work of fiction, for some reason -- but I was a big fan of his nonfiction, especially his essays for Harper's that are collected in the book "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" (that book, along with "Infinite Jest" and most of his other work is available at the Monroe County library).  The title essay describes Wallace taking a cruise and attempting to interview the captain about the crew's working conditions and it's hysterically funny, although the cruise industry probably didn't think so. Another piece in that book describes Wallace visiting the Illinois State Fair in all its Midwestern glory. I've also enjoyed his more recent work, collected in "Consider the Lobster" -- the title essay from that book caused a huge flap when it was published in Gourmet magazine. Maybe I'll add "Infinite Jest" to the list of books to take on a six-month RV trip, along with the Shelby Foote Civil War trilogy. My theory on that has always been you'd want to keep  yourself occupied for a long time with the number of books you can fit in a milk crate.

We're going to party like it's 1989

Assuming Gustav doesn't stop by and spoil the weekend, there's a party not to be missed in Key West -- especially if you're a Gen Xer and/or a book lover. For those of us who are both -- you can't ask for much more. Voltaire Books, our wonderful independent bookstore, is throwing a bash called '80s Extended, featuring D.J. Voltaire, aka Voltaire owner Christopher Kush. Word has it he's unearthed all his vinyl for this event, which will be Upstairs at Mangoes, 700 Duval St., on Sunday, Aug. 31 (it's Labor Day weekend, remember, so you can sleep in on Monday). Munchies are from 8 to 9 p.m., with dancing from 9 til 2 a.m. Tickets are $10 at the door or $8 at Voltaire Books, 330 Simonton St. The flyer promises a whole bunch of good stuff, best summed up as: Classic 12" Re-Mixes, Rarities and Guilty Pleasures. But my favorite part might be the small-type notice, which says that while this is a benefit for an excellent cause (Friends of the Key West Library), "this is really just an excuse to dance your ass off." Mea Copa, man.

What to read ...

Wondering what to read this summer? The Monroe County public library has an idea; here's the press release sent along from Anne Layton Rice: What now? Is June eBook of the MonthBestselling author Ann Patchett offers an essay on hope and inspiration for graduates and anyone at a crossroads Based on her lauded commencement address at Sarah Lawrence College, this stirring essay by bestselling author Ann Patchett offers hope and inspiration for anyone at a crossroads, whether graduating, changing careers, or transitioning from one life stage to another. With wit and candor, Patchett tells her own story of attending college, graduating, and struggling with the inevitable question, What now? From student to line cook to teacher to waitress and eventually to award-winning author, Patchett's own life has taken many twists and turns that make her exploration genuine and resonant. As Patchett writes, "'What now?' represents our excitement and our future, the very vitality of life." Praised as “The best graduation present on the market…” by Publisher’s Weekly, What now? highlights the possibilities the unknown offers and reminds us that there is as much joy in the journey as there is in reaching the destination. Provided through the generous support of HarperCollins Publishers, What now? will be available to Monroe County Public Library patrons June 1-30. If you have already established a NetLibrary account through Monroe County Public Library Library, visit www.netLibrary.org and log in.  If you do not have a NetLibrary account, you can create an account from any Monroe County Public Library library computer.  Library hours and directions are available here: www.keyslibraries.org For more information, contact Anne Layton Rice at rice...@monroecounty-fl.gov

Other ideas should be on the air Sunday from 9 to 10 a.m. on U.S. 1 Radio (104.1 for local listeners, us1radio.com for those far away) when I, along with Kristina Neihouse and Christine Bell from the public library, will be on Cruisin with Grusin to talk about summer reading. I'll be talking about all the cool stuff you can get here at the college library -- anyone in the Keys can belong! -- as well as all the stuff to read before next year's Literary Seminar. So listen up.

But wait ... there's more!

More from Kris on book clubs at the Key West library: "The All for One Book Club at the Key West Library will discusses Ann Patchett's novel Bel Canto next week.  The group will meet Wednesday afternoon March 19  at 4:00--bring your afternoon coffee, tea and snacks to the discussion!Here is a link for a reading guide for the novel:  http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_guides/detail/index.cfm?book_number=833 Books for discussion are not chosen ahead of time.  When we finish discussing Bel Canto the group will decide what to read for next month's meeting. Hope to see you at the library!"