An Obama book, Ottawa’s snowbound solution and a freebie

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It can be hard to get to the library when you’re snowed in, as they well know in Canada. Ottawa’s Public Library has a remedy: It’s allowing members to download e-books over the Internet. No need to return them, and no late fees either -- the downloaded books automatically delete after three weeks.

David Remnick would be wise to pass on downloading any library books; the New Yorker editor has enough on his plate. In addition to putting out the magazine, he’ll be writing a book on President-elect Barack Obama for Knopf. A November article by Remnick will be the ‘germ’ of the book, which will likely sit on shelves near upcoming Obama books by Gwen Ifill and Ryan Lizza.

Also upcoming is the redemptive memoir by Jodi Sweetin, the actress who played little Steph on ‘Full House.’ According to Publishers’ Marketplace, the book was bought by Simon and Schuster for six figures. Gawker reports that the actress’ ongoing troubles do not seem to be derailing the book’s redemptive aspect.

What can you get if you don’t have six figures? A copy of the literary journal Zyzzyva. Longtime editor Howard Junker is offering copies of the magazine free as a year-end gift -- all you need to do is send him an e-mail.

-- Carolyn Kellogg