CHECKING OUT THE LIBRARY

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August 1, 1982

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Information at your fingertips

Read any good books in Ukrainian lately? Maybe not. But thanks to our local libraries, people all over Vancouver are absorbed by bestsellers in a dozen different languages, from

Arabic to Urdu.

Five librames serve the North Shore — one in North Vancouver City, three branches in North Van- couver District, and the West Vancouver Memorial Library. All fine facilities in their own right, they are part of the Greater Vancouver Library Federation (GVLF), which was founded in 1975.

in practical terms, a vast resource of some 2 million volumes is now available to every library card holder in this area. And for good measure, the GVLF has access to another 2 million books at UBC.

Long gone are the days of small volunteer libraries operating out of basements and back rooms. Gone too is the concept of a library as a hushed and stuffy hothouse, used only by would-be academics, and the over- ambitious. Today's libraries are cheerful, inviting places with a comfortable lived-in look.

Dozens of services are offered, some obvious, others ‘very much less so. Many people out there are dependent on taped or “talking” books, others on books-on-wheels, others again on large print books.

These are by now familiar to most of us. So are the interesting programmes and activities offered by many

libraries, as well as their special displays and exhibitions.

The North Vancouver City

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‘library.

for example, provides a cultural focus for the community by presenting concerts, poetry readings and musical programmes for children.

An unexpected feature of library service available to North Shore residents in- cludes Lynn Valley's collection of seed catalogues and their sewing pattern exchange. Enterprising — and original — services to our community.

And how many people are aware of the incredible reference resources which are only a phone call or visit away? North Shore libraries contain enough reference material to keep even the most zealous researcher happy for months.

Len Norris's delightfully witty cartoon highlighting the slogan: “It’s at your library — check it out” deserves more than a passing glance. As any experienced people-watcher will confirm (and many delightful specimens can be observed perched among the books), Norris’s detail is wickedly funny — and at the same time, not far off the mark. The local library is literally for all of us, however modest or complex our requirements.

“We ought to have a new slogan: ‘Phone your hbrary first,” according to Enid Dearing, Chief Librarian of North Vancouver District Library. “We have a very

STORYTELLING IS but one of the countless services -s offered by libraries on the North Shere aud here at Seycove, the children provide a rapt audience as Sarah Ellis, Children’s Librarian and Head of Children's Sexvices along with Fran Ashdown, library assistant, take part. (Ellsworth Dickson photo)

considerable reference section just begging to be used more often. We can answer most questions from our own resources. Failing that, we can obtain in- formation very quickly from elsewhere.”

Family and historical research are always popular. If West Vancouver Memorial Library isn't able to provide answers from its already extensive holdings, then either the UBC Library or The National Library. Ottawa, can usually help. Where a book is too valuable

to travel, photocopies | of relevant passages will be provided wherever possible. Imagination is one of the Most precious and_in- destructible gifts with which we are endowed.

Children instinctively recognize this fact, and if encouraged and given half a chance, become great library users. And a child- like curiosity about the world around us keeps many of us young in spirit.

Research on any level is a

fascinating and absorbing game - intnguing. mad- dening and practically

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endless. You open one door — and are tantalized by the prospect of a dozen other ahead.

So the next time you're wondering when Napolicon was born, or where words like “filibuster” and “ken speckle” came from, os how a laser beam works — just remember that night bere on the North Shore, library staff are more than cager, happy and competent to provide you with the answers. To modify the GVLF slogan shghtly — “It's at your North Shore library - check tt oat.”

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WHERE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

West Vancouver

1950 Marine Drive, 926-3291

Nesth Vancouver City 121 West 14th Street. 980-0531

Neath Vancouver District:

Lyme Valicy 1280 East 27th Street, 984-0286

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3180 Newmarkct, 987-7633 Seycevre

1204 Caledonia.

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