thanks, PunkBuddy. *i got the Combat King 003 (Meteor Barret) from the Library Girl.

SpeedDemon, i'm not sure if it's too late or not, but i forgot to go to the B. Garden Library before i went to the Fire Cavern, and i still got the book. *But i did talk to her with Zell in my party before i went to Timber, so i can't be totally sure you'll be able to get it.
After the Garden was fixed up by the people at FH, but before i went to Balamb (on Disc 2), i went to the back room of the library with Zell in the party. *as i was leaving, two of the library girls stopped Zell and asked him a couple questions.
Favorite Color - choose from red, blue, or pink
Favorite Food - choose from Beef, Fish, or Hot Dogs
there was a third question, but someone interrupted before Zell answered.*
*(i restarted and was also able to take the quiz on Disc 3, before Squall has the Laguna movie flashback, so the window of opportunity for this part seems to be huge)
after freeing Balamb, a girl in a red skirt near the front gate told Zell someone came to his house looking for him.
i had to pay 6,000 gil to find the girl in the train station... 3,000 gil for the trip to Timber and 3,000 gil for the trip back to Balamb. *the girl in the red skirt was at the Balamb station when i got back.
i went to Zell's house and Zell asked his mother if anyone had stopped by, but she said no.
After Squall had the flashback with Laguna shooting a movie on Disc 3, a girl in the Balamb Library told Zell the girl with the pigtail had something for him. *i went back to Balamb and spent 100 gil to stay at the hotel, and Zell got the Combat King 003 from her.

...it's probably simpler than all that. *just make sure you always have Zell in your party, and visit the library and Balamb every chance you get.