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Page 6 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICALSOCIETY January 1994 THE HISTORY OF CANADA'S MOST USED LIBRARY â€" THE WEST VANCOUVER MEMORIAL LIBRARY By: Waring PentUmd We were fortunate in having not one but two guest Speakers at our November Meeting. The first to speak, Molly Murray, is eminently qualified on the subject as she came on the West Vancouver Library Board in 1986, has been Chair on the Board since 1992 and was primarily responsible for representing the Board in bringing the new addition into operation. Jack Mounce, Chief Librarian since 1982, has held a pivotal position during the years prior to and during the construction of the new addition and is probably in the best position to give an overview of this project. This presentation has been video taped, as a trial project, and is available on loan through the Society office. Molly opened the presentation with the development of the Public Library in West Vancouver from its early beginnings. For much of the detail of these early years before her association with the library, she gave full credit to Sally Carswell for her outstanding book, “Fulfilling a Dream”, which is still in print and available for sale at the Library at a cost of $15. Many of the slides that so vividly illustrated these early days were from the files gathered as background for this book. A large number of the slides used in the presentation were in colour, which unfortunately was unavailable in the black and white printing of the book. Riblic operation of a library began in 1921 under the direction of the newly formed Hollybum Riblic Library Board. It survived and prospered until in 1931 the circulation for the year reached 15,000. The library continued full operation until 1933 at which time records became sketchy as funding became a problem; in 1936 the remaining books were sold and the Riblic Library became a casualty of the Depression. Towards the end of the War the West Vancouver Library Association was formed but it was not until 1947 that it was decided by a close vote in a referendum that a Riblic Library would be built as an official War Memorial to West Vancouver’s fallen soldiers. Funding proved initially to be a problem but a further public subscription and various other forms of raising money were undertaken with a great number of public organizations lending support. On May 27, 1950 a sod turning ceremony was held and from then on there was no turning back. It opened Nov. 11, 1950. The library opened with only 3,000 books but it was so popular that they put out a general appeal and in response a hirtlier 3,000 were donated. Clearly the library became a hub ot public life in the community and many, notably the “Friends ot the Library”, took an active part in helping the library. The first librai'ian, NIrs. Elizabeth Musto, fostered a warm and triendly atmosphere that was to become a keynote of operation over the years. Usage grew steadily until in 1956 a further expansion was necessary, which proved to be the only one that was not supported by public subscription, making West Vancouver Library development unique in North America in its dependence on public subscriptions. Population continued to grow in West Vancouver and in 1962 the Jubilee Wing was added. With this addition. West Vancouver cancelled the management agreement they had with the Vancouver Riblic Library, and the Memorial Library assumed responsibility for its own operation. Despite the use of the Book mobile and other means of extending books into the community the demands on the facility could not be met as the population of West Vancouver continued to grow. A further expansion of library facilities began again in 1976 and with the large addition completed the library reopened on November 11,1977 to usher in a new era in library use. Molly finished her presentation with glimpses of operations in the 1980’s, highlighted with r. ’u e ^ t. slides of many features that would Entrance to the Memorial Library from the Cenotaph , ^ change or disappear with a frirther addition just recently completed. Jack Mounce picked up the thread of the story at this point. In 1984 a Library Board Committee recommended a further expansion of 7000 sq. ft. Consultants stated however that 15,000 sq. ft. were required, and a further 1,000 sq. ft. each year. An architectural planning group was hired and in November 1987 they presented a design concept similar to the one later adopted. There were many reasons for expansion. Each year about 15,000 books are purchased and 10,000 are discarded. So each year the collection expands and more and more shelf space is required. By 1988 many books had to be moved to off site storage to relieve the pressure for shelf space. Many amenities generally accepted as necessary in modem libraries were missing and had to be included in the plans.