Library home service becoming best-seller Volunteers deliver favorite books to home-bound By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter AFTER ENDURING two hip operations, Elinor McMartin began wondering how she’d pass the time. She'd always been an avid teader, regularly devouring mystery and travel books, and a faithful subscriber to The New Yorker magazine. That only doubled her frustra- tions because getting to the library was no longer possible. McMartin’s salvation came Mohammed-like whea she found out about West Vancouver Me- morial Library's library home ser- vice. Now she no longer worries ebout getting to the books because the books come to her. The West Vancouver woman is one of 20 home-bound individuals taking advantage of the library home service, a 12-year-old pro- gram administered by West Van- couver Memorial Library’s adult services depariment. Twice a month volunteers of the Friends of the Library deliver books and magazines that have been personally hand-picked by Roslaynne Fonseca to people who cannot leave their homes due to health problems. “fis been a life-saver. | love reading so much VI even read a cookbook if Um stuck in a doc- tor’s office,’ says MeMartin. “Pim terribly indebted to them,”* Best of all the service is Free. Retired University of B.C. music professor Lloyd Slind has been receiving books every two weeks for the past two years. The best thing about the pro- gram, he says, is that books are chosen to suit each individual's literary tastes. **Roslaynne is so know- ledgeable. She introduced me to Clive James, who | really enjoy. I’ve been able to read all of Max Braithwaite's books —~ | taught for $500 a month in the Dirty Thirties just like him,’’ laughs Slind, who has published several works on music. * Recovering from a spinal ail- ment, Dorothy French can’t imag- ine what she would have done without the service. “It got to the point where I could no longer go to the library because I couldn't stand for any length of time,’’ she explains. “My husband still gocs, but he can’t choose for me. What I do is make a list of books I’d like to read and the library staff reserves them for me. It’s worked out perfectly.’* Each year Friends of the Library deliver and pick up about | m Your ‘Windows With Wood Order the Wood Renais sance Collection today Offer ends Saturday, Oct. 3/92 A SHADE BETTER Specializing in Blinds and Draperies for over 7 years 1877 Marine Drive, NVan. 994-4404 #4-38018 Progress Way, Squamish &92-5857 Whistler 932-6617 2.000 books from individuals of all ages. “Tes mostly seniors who receive the service, but we've had some young people who have had operations or accidents,"” says Fons a regular or temporary s Over the years Fonseca come to know her clients’ and dislikes. “One woman reads nothing but biographies. They can’t be Hollywood style, nothing too heavy. “J have another 90-year-old lady who is very precise. She tells me she wants six titles and no more. And | have to be careful they don’t include sex or violence. So you really have to know your books, your authors.”’ “To me it’s almost an intuitive thing,” she says. ‘I'll see a book and think it’s wonderful and all of a sudden a name will Mash through my mind: Hey, Mr. or Mrs. so-and-so would love this!”’ The library home service is well on its way to becoming a best seller as more patrons find out about it, Fonseca says. has likes If you would like to find out more about the Library Home Service, contact the adult services department at West Vancouver Memorial Library at 926-3291, focal 311. 1992 ~ North Shore News - 45 REWS photo Cindy Goodman ELINOR McMARTIN with pet pocdie Charlie greet Marvy Boyse of the Friends of the Library. The volunteer group delivers books to homebound individuals as part cf West Vancouver Memorial Library’s home library service. NORTHERN FEATHE soose: Dow