34 - Wedresday, February 20, THE NORTH Vancouver City Library will not only be holding a celebration to mark its 60th anniversary Saturday, but February 23rd will also be the day the facil- ity celebrates its !0th an- niversary at its present loca- tion, The library, which cur- tenuy boasts a circulation of over 385,000, has had a his- tory filled with colorful ~ and prominent -— Narth Vancouverites. Their goal has been simple: to ensure local children and adults are provided with books design- ed to entertain and enrich their lifestyles. The publication, A Little History of the City of North Vancouver Public Library, says the first recorded evidence that the pioneers of what was then. catied Moodyville had decided to begin assembling a library was contained in the minutes of a meeting held by the Mechanics Institute, Burrard Inlet. The Institute’s February 1, 1869, minutes included a motion which said, ‘‘that a vote of thanks in writing be tendered to S.P. Moody and Company by this Institute Yentheir kindness in erecting the ilding for a Library and etc The ‘tnal number of :books coll d for the first facility was" 13%. ~ It was not unthyjovember 12, 1924, that thés,Public Library Association was. of- ficially constituted. History records that before the 1985 - North Shore News library was incorporated, its members were forced to borrow donated books or those volumes purchased with the money raised from card parties and afternoon teas. Without a building to call its own, the library was forced, at times, to use the top floor of @ butcher shop and «a milkman’s unheated garage as its storage head- quarters. Other library venues included vacant stores in the Lower Lonsdale area. With the advent of the depression in the 30s, the Ci- ty grant to the library was discontinued and the volun- teer workers were forced to take yet another upstairs room on Lonsdale for their group. It was not until 1949 that two dedicated women, Agnes Wheeler and Violet Johnson, with the help of Mayor Frank Goldsworthy, managed to convince local MP James Sinclair and the federal labor minister that the Wartime Administration Building on Second Street would be an ideal head- quarters for the library. The group remained there . until B.C.’s centennial year ‘“when the City of North Vancouver decided to make the building of a library fa- cility their centennial pro- .ject? The new building open- ed in November, -1958, at 132 West ‘2'h and fifetime memberships 1 the Library Association were handed out to Johnson, Wheeler. Olea Witton, Freda Meagher, Harry Smith and Norman Woodard. In December, 1964, the facility became a municipal Nibrary by referendum and in 1966, a children's depart- ment and a new wing com- bined to double the size of the building. Not only did the library's physical size increase over the years but so did its resources. Joe Lavery, the head librarian at the City’s current site — the library moved to 121 West 14th St. in February, 1975 — says current figures show the library serving over 17,000 people per-year with a total of 95,000 books. He says the 1984 approved budget was $833,000, while the an- ticipated budget for 1985 is $880,000. Ninety-two per cent of the budget comes from the municipality, with the re- maining eight per cent from the provincial government, private donations, fines and photocopying fees. Services provided by the 32 employees include home delivery to shut-ins, taped books for the vision-im- paired, programs for adults and children and class visits. “At our open house we'll have refreshments like we have every year,’’ says Lavery. ‘‘The difference with this year is that it's been our busiest year ever.”’ CUSTOM FRAMING Selected Prints 20-50% Off Sale ends February 28, 1985 IMAGE FRAMES Quality Picture Framing _ 9816 Camaron Street (Behind Lougheed Math Burnaby, 6.C. ¥3d 162 421-6663 751 Dunsmuir St. (Across from Pacific Centre) Vancouver B.C. V6C 1MS9 685-4663 7325 Kingsway (At Edmonds}, Burnaby, B.C. ¥5E 168 522-2514 North Vancouver City Library celebrates its 60th year and you’re invited to attend an OFEN HOUSE, February 23, e Refreshments * Tours A Brief History 1925 - First N. Vancouver Public Library opens _ 1949 - First permanent location established on 2nd Street 1958 - Moved to new building on 12th Street 1964 - Became a Municipal Library by referendum 1975 - Moved to present location at Civic Centre 1984 - Enjoyed busiest year ever 1984 Facts * Circulation ¢ Reference * Requests * Bookstock e Magazines & Newspapers * Approved Budget 385,000 16,000 9,000 . Hours: Tues-Friday 10am - 9pm Services: Saturday 10am-5pm_—- * Circulation * Reference (in person or by phone) * Request * Home Delivery to Shut-ins * Taped Books for the Sight Handicapped ° Programs for Aduits & Children ¢ Storytimes * Class visits