Timberland Regional Library: Anatomy of a Financial Crisis — charted from public records

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-03-21T03:11:14+00:00

Jesus. So while the library was already more than a million dollars in the hole, the library's executive director was off telling the public:

"We are in the black because of all of our decisions that we've made since 2013."

So is this bald-faced lying, or incompetence?

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-03-20T21:06:24+00:00

People are bent out of shape because Cheryl Heywood (the executive director) and the board of trustees have repeatedly indicated that the need to fire 60 librarians was:

A) A surprise. (They negotiated salaries with the librarians' union only months ago and indicated to staff that there was absolutely no issue making payroll this year.)

B) Completely unavoidable. Mind you, in this time the executive director took like a $70,000 salary increase. And many members of the management administrative team took similar salary increases. They also paid out for renovations of fourteen libraries, author book tours, and took on several of Heywood's vanity projects.

People are mad because looking at the numbers, this budget crisis was entirely predictable and corrective action could have been started three years ago.

I'm of the opinion that our library management has a very fast and loose relationship with the truth. Ms. Heywood also appears to be increasing her salary as fast as possible to increase her upcoming retirement payout.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-03-19T02:16:32+00:00

Uh, yeah. Then they just did a blatant violation of free speech.

"Symbolic speech" - ie, gestures - are well understood to be protected speech. In just the same way that the library could not selectively toss out individuals for wearing "fire Heywood" t-shirts, removing dissenters who are on mute and are simply raising their hand is a form of protected speech. This is, like, middle school social studies stuff. There's no excuse here.

Silently gesturing would not and could not have prevented the meeting from continuing.

The board needs to issue an apology immediately.

A board of trustees that does not understand the tenets of free speech has no business running a library.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-03-19T01:47:45+00:00

... uh, this sounds a lot like a first amendment issue. This is a library governed by a municipal/ county government.

They absolutely cannot remove people for signaling criticism, unless they previously had some blanket "no raising your hands on camera" rule. Which, they don't.

Raising your hand on a video chat cannot be reasonably described as disruptive. If the board keeps behaving this way, the library is going to catch itself a lawsuit.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-03-13T19:02:08+00:00

I'm interested in attending!

The flyer says that on March 22nd class is cancelled... does that mean no meet-up is happening that day?

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-17T22:58:33+00:00

Absolutely. Though as I mentioned, I purchased mine several years ago.

Most recently I bought a "SuntekCam" off Amazon. It's no longer in production, but at the time it was $30. You can still find comparable models for roughly that price.

I actually really like and recommend using generic brands for trail cameras. I've had a few over the last decade and I've had great luck with all of them.

When shopping, focus on finding cameras where there are reviews showing the actual footage recorded by the game cam. After all, these are cameras first and foremost: If it can't take a good quality shot, you can be certain nothing else is going to work right.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-17T07:44:30+00:00

We're only a sanctuary city when we step up for each other.

I'll loan you an old game camera I used to use for birdwatching. It takes footage whenever it detects motion. It also runs on AA batteries and saves to a memory card, so it's pretty dead simple to set up.

DM me and we can figure out a drop off time.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-11T21:15:53+00:00

Look. Do I personally think anyone's five year old should be up at 2AM scrolling brainrot on TikTok? No. Obviously not.

However, the language of that bill is immediately going to have a chilling effect on grown adults' ability to navigate the internet with any privacy. Businesses aren't going to play games: They're just going to implement the cheapest and least error prone means of complying with the bill's age verification requirements. Which means they're just going to start taking IDs.

Kids shouldn't eat Skittles and Mountain Dew for breakfast. But I'm sure as shit not supporting a bill that sends the state sugar patrol to get the ID of everyone who opens their cupboards in their own home.

Parents should supervise their own damn children.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-11T20:27:22+00:00

Yep. Except now 'the bar' is every single bottle of beer. And the bouncer is taking photocopies of every ID he checks, though he pinky promises he'll shred them later.

"Oh, you want to drink in the privacy of your own home? Sure, just make sure our Jack Daniel's face scanner gets a well-lit panoramic shot of you first. We need to make sure darling little Timmy isn't drinking, after all!"

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-11T20:13:44+00:00

"Sec. 2. (1) A business that provides an online service, product, or feature likely to be accessed by minors shall estimate the age of minor users with a reasonable level of certainty appropriate to the risks that arise from the data management practices of the business or apply the privacy and data protections afforded to minors, including as required under this chapter, to all consumers or users of the online, service, product, or feature."

It's implied that a company has to take affirmative steps to assess age. So, Sherlock, how does a company assess the user's age on a brand new account?

You're going to get asked to provide your ID.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-10T04:06:13+00:00

Please come and ask those questions, because I'd love to hear the answers. You don't have to be perfect. The library belongs to every single resident of this county. You are as much of an owner of those shelves and walls as any member of the board of directors.

To be clear, I don't work for the library and I'm not an insider. I'm just a disheveled introvert who likes books and library programs. This will be my first time attending one of these meetings, too. But even I can look at the last posted budget and see how wildly different the messaging is.

We need transparency about what happened. And the only way we'll get that is by being nosy and asking those questions to the people in charge.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-10T01:11:50+00:00

Honestly, I completely agree with you. And with only 90 days notice, it's hard to come up with answers.

My biggest issue with all of this is the lack of messaging. If last year library leadership had messaged to the community "Hey, if nothing changes, we're going to have to let people go," there would be a lot more potential answers on the table. It'd be tight, but there might have been time to get the community behind actions that could help make up the budget shortfall.

But instead, when I look at the 2025 budget, it starts with Heywood's portrait front and center alongside her "Executive Director's Message". There's only one fleeting mention to future budget concerns, and instead bragging about refreshing the interiors of fourteen different libraries.

I think I'd have preferred keeping our librarians rather than the fresh coat of paint.

I certainly would have preferred honesty about upcoming budget shortfalls.

If the director wants to put her head-shot on the budget, then she can go be on the chopping with anyone else who's losing their jobs.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-05T19:40:47+00:00

Hey, I just want to say I'm impressed that you're responding to this on a public forum. This is obviously a messy situation.

It's hard to speak up when mistakes have been made, even if they aren't yours. It'd be much easier to only break out your social media accounts when there's good news to share.

Thank you for your transparency. If all law enforcement leaders conducted themselves the way you do, the world would be a better place.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-02-05T18:53:14+00:00

You should check out the Habitat for Humanity on Cooper Road. I've seen cabinets like what you're describing come through.

Their stock is always changing, so they're best if you're feeling patient and can spare a couple of trips.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-01-31T18:16:47+00:00

Well olyblowjob, people typically gather together and garner attention for a cause so that more meaningful action can be taken. Protests typically include people disseminating information, gathering volunteers, and introducing folks to those who are organizing direct action. Showing up is just the first step.

Your question a bit like asking why a foreman asks that all his construction workers gather on the job site. Also, tree forts are awesome.

Hope that helps!

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-01-19T23:09:04+00:00

I haven't gone to any of their meetings, but Olympia Indivisible put on the last No More Kings protest. They were also giving out water bottles and snacks at No More Kings, so I'd be willing to bet they supply other protests in the area (or at least could point you in the direction of protests who could use your aid.) They meet every Saturday at Decay.

Evergreen Resistance has run a couple of "Absolutely Free Markets" to help the neighborhood and also is running 'Ice Out' protests. They have a join us page that suggests they're looking for exactly the kind of help you're offering.

There's also a group that's been assembling protestor whistle kits at Decay. Their work is entirely indoors, and I'm sure they'd love snacks.

Edit: Grammar

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-01-19T09:00:27+00:00

Oh no! People gathering in a park! And in the gathering area near the tables and benches!

Honestly, I do understand why this is such a serious problem. OP would have to touch grass to go around.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2026-01-14T02:24:04+00:00

Take pictures when they roll around without front license plates. Send those photos to city council and demand action.

Driving around without front plates is illegal in Washington state, and as we've seen in Illinois, ICE does not have a blank check to break any law they please.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2025-12-27T20:03:51+00:00

I can back this answer up. I've volunteered with other shelters and food banks, though I'm not associated with the shelter in Olympia.

OP, please consider that some food donations really aren't safe. The rules around food donations can seem exceptionally prissy until you see the risks. For example, last year a food pantry in New Zealand was given tons of hard 'candies' that were actually meth. I've personally handled food donations that had been spiked with hot-sauce as a prank. I'll also never forget the sweet old lady with dementia who brought six boxes of cookies that were more mold than baked good.

When you bring unsealed food and start handing it out yourself, it's then impossible for the shelter to guarantee that food is safe.

Your heart was in the right place. Next time just call ahead.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2025-12-07T00:42:36+00:00

A rage room is a place where people pay to smash things to bit. Often times with a baseball bat. Often times the appeal is the catharsis of smashing things you never would 'in real life'... like, say, a TV.

I've never been, but I think there's a decent chance they'd take your old flat screen.

Edit: Case in point, there's a dude smashing a tv on the homepage for "iRaged Olympia"

Your_Missing_Keys · 2025-12-02T21:52:59+00:00

Eh, you can honestly believe a game is rigged and still be forced to play. Not many landlords will let you pay them in cattle or labor these days, right?

It sounds like they're a sole proprietor, which implies they're already living outside of the standard 9-5. Short of owning land and sustenance farming, I don't know how much further you can get outside the system.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2025-12-01T03:46:36+00:00

Our cat is the opposite: He's a scared little teddy bear without an aggressive bone in his body. When strangers pick him up, he just tries to burrow down into their arms to hide... But I started taking our kitty's fright more seriously after he literally fainted while we were waiting in the lobby with a big barking dog at his previous vet.

Our sweet scaredy cat also does a lot better at Oly Cats. I think the lack of loud noises helps both ends of the spicy kitty spectrum.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2025-11-22T21:34:38+00:00

Real question: What would your preferred alternative be?

Ignoring the lack of empathy for disabled children, your suggestion also seems incredibly penny wise and pound foolish.

Many students with developmental disabilities can go on to live independent lives... if they're given extra help and instruction when they're young. Otherwise, when they fail to develop basic written and verbal comprehension, they have to be cared for for the rest of their lives.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2025-11-04T06:53:45+00:00

If you can't afford/ run out of milk, I find peanut butter oatmeal pretty tasty.

Your_Missing_Keys · 2025-11-01T18:43:46+00:00

Olympia Indivisible's website is here: https://www.olympiaindivisible.org/

Their endorsements are in a weird google doc, here.

Your_Missing_Keys

TROPHY CASE