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April ’97 library news Book Ends? Wfe were shocked to hear recently that books had been declared an endangered species. The announcement came on April 1st. It said the book was being crowded out of its natural habitat by a host of new organisms â€" cassettes, videos. CD-ROMs and the like. "But how can this be ? ” we protested. "Books are wonderful things. There’s never been more of them about. ’’ "Don’t befooled by the numbers, ” one official told us. " We ’ve seen this coming for a long time. It’s a typical scenario where the book just can’t compete with the new breeds any more. ” "Everything’s electronic these days, ” his colleague, a futurist, explained. "It’s all out there in cyberspace and you just down- load what you need onto your bubblejet. "Take a look at this, ’’ he said, showing us an object the size of the average paperback with a flickering blue screen. "This baby can store more than 100 books. It includes action shots and music, and it only weighs 300 grams. See, there Jeff Hunter playing Jesus in that Bible epic thing. ’’ We were relieved to hear on April 2nd that books had been removed from the endangered species list. H E F E Ik E N C E S E Ik V I C E S West Vancouver’s Planning Department has had a number of topographic maps produced to coincide with public meetings on land use with land above the Upper Levels Highway. The series of digital maps is titled Upperlands Resource Inventory. A set is available for examination in the Reference Department. The Reference Department has acquired the following Thornton guides on Asian corporations: The Guide to Asian Companies, Guide to the Companies of Singapore & Malaysia, and Guide to Hong Kong Companies. How appropriate that the word jargon (ca. 1350 jargoun) is related to the world garg/e, (derived from the Old French gargoter “to make a noise with the throat,” or today’s French gargouiller “to gurgle” and the Latin garrire “to chatter, babble”) both words imitating an inarticulate sound. In fact, as far back as the 14th century, jargon applied to the “twittering of birds” as well as to “unintelligible speech.” Today, the use of jargon refers to technical language paraded amongst professionals or specialists in a field to the mystification of laypersons, who may however possess their own language for such “unintelligible, gurgling babblers.” WEST VANCOUVER MEMORIAL LIBRARY 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC,V7V 1J8 Tel: (604) 925-7400 Library Hours: (604) 925-7401 Fax: (604) 925-5933 Modem Acc.: 925-7409 ADULT' S E Ik I C E S IN THE GALLERY ... “The Best Dressed Cow Contest” and “Mother Nature (or should I say Father) Series” ... art work by West Vancouver artist Sharon Christian, will be on display in the Library April 1 - May 4. Sharon has been painting since early childhood, inspired by life on the family farm in Alberta. Her work has been shown in many galleries across Canada in solo and group exhibits. “For me art is a communication about the world as I see it. My paintings represent me, who I am and how I think. I hope you enjoy the show.” Reception, artist in attendance, T\iesday, April 1, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Most paintings are for sale. APRIL ... the joy of warmer days and longer evenings ... dreams of distant places ... from the best of travel writing we offer a few suggestions to stir the imagination and to set you on your way. (914 FRO) Frommer’s Europe From $50 A Dav: Frugal Traveler’s Guides 1996 Dream vacations at down-to-earth prices. (914.278 LIN) LINDOP, GREVEL Literary Guide To The Lake District Lakeland connections from early history to contemporary writers. Maps and guides for the tourist and a perfect holiday for the armchair traveller. (914.3613 VIE) Vienna H995) Insight Compact Guides A quick guide to the historical sights, culture, leisure activities and special places in this “city of dreams.”