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March 2002 M IBRARY NEWS flow do you say book in othor Ian0ua0os? The West Vancouver Memorial Library has a growing multilingual collection. The collection includes a number of languages but the largest numbers of titles are in Persian, French and Chinese. Smaller collections include Japanese, German, Russian, Italian and Spanish. The collection has developed in three basic ways: â-  Purchase by the Library â-  Donations of funds â-  Donations of books Two of our largest collections, Persian and Chinese, are especially notable because they are largely a result of the donations from those communities. We have one of the largest Persian collections in BC and our Chinese collection was dramatically enriched a few years ago by a large donation. One of the major challenges of adding languages like Chinese and Persian to the collection is establishing catalogue entries for non-Roman alphabets. In spite of that, both the Chinese and the Persian books are heavily used. Also of note are our tapes and videos for learning other languages and our materials for learning English as a second language. We have a small language lab funded by the Friends of the Library for use of these materials in the Library or they can be taken home. 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC,V7V 1J8 t Tel: (604) 925-7400 Library Hours: (604) 925-7401 Fax: (604) 925-5933 Website: www.westvanlib.org REFERENCE SERVICES The Reference Department holds an autographed copy of the recently published title Burrard Inlet: a history by Doreen Armitage. The two circulating copies appear to be in heavy demand and, besides being local history, a non-circulating copy remains in Reference for the purpose of permanent availability. Another recent acquisition for Reference is Wycliffe s New Testament, translated by John Wycliffe (sometimes spelled Wyclif [c. 1329-1384]) and John Purvey. Unique to this edition is that it is a modem spelling version of the 14* century Middle English translation. John Wycliffe was an English Oxford theology graduate and religious reformer who, by translating the Bible from the Vulgate Latin into the English vernacular of the day, subverted the Church’s control over access to scripture by offering the text to a wider common audience. Vernacular translations had been made in other countries as far back as the 2"'* century, but these were not known to most of Western Europe. The interpretation of scripture was left to those learned men who tended to support the status quo of the church and state. This attitude made the business of translating an increasingly dangerous business. However, Wycliffe was generally protected from punishment by the fact that the expression of his views was primarily confined within the boundaries of the university. Despite being brought to trial several times and summoned before the bishops at St. Paul’s to answer for his views, he died in his bed on December 31, 1384 of a paralytic stroke, before heresy had become an issue. Wycliffe’s most vehement enemies blame his views for the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381. Despite 10 out of 24 of Wycliffe’s theological proposals having been deemed heretical at the 1382 hearings presided over by the Archbishop Courtney at Lambeth, he did not move personally against Wycliffe. Nevertheless, the Council of Constance ordered the unusual post- mortem punishment of having his books and bones burnt and scattered into a river, which subsequently became a common metaphor used by poets such as William Wordsworth to stand for the dissemination of his beliefs. Following Elizabeth I’s re-establishment of the Church of England in 1559, John Wycliffe became a hero and a martyr. Wycliffe is recognized in the Church of England Lesser Festivals of October 6. SOURCES: The Encyclopedia of Religion, vol. 15, ed. By Mircea Eliade. The Oxjbrd Dictionary of World Religions ed. by John Bowker. http://tcchcd.vt.cdu/gcc/HTML/PrintingsPast/Engli.shRcformation.html ADULT SERVICES IN THE GALLERY... “The Art of Collage” by North Shore artist Ken Prescott will be on display in the gallery March 1 to March 31. Ken’s paintings are in many private and public collections; he has traveled widely and is well known in the local art world. “Using a variety of papers, tools and acrylic paints, I let my collage paintings evolve until their richly textured surfaces suggest both the physical and emotional feeling of my subjects.” Reception, artist in attendance, Friday, March 1, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. All paintings are for sale. OPERA PREVIEW James Wright, General Director at the Vancouver Opera Company will help the Library celebrate the centenary of John Steinbeck’s birth by talking about the Opera’s presentation of “Of Mice and Men.” There will be an explanation and conversation about the opera as well as a question and answer period. Music may also be provided. Date: Sunday, March 17, 2002 Time: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Place: The Peter J. Peters Room This event is free, but please call (604) 925-7402 to register. YOUR A TTENTION PLEASE: We would love to notify you by e-mail of forthcoming Author Visits or other Literary Events. Please phone us at (604) 925-7402 or e-mail us at adult@westvanlib.org if you would like to be on our special events notification e-mail list. INTERNET - Internet Basics for Beginners will be held in the Computer Centre. If you would like to attend, please call the Fiction Desk at (604) 925-7402. CYBER SATURDAYS - Drop by the Computer Centre Saturday mornings between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. for help with Internet searching, e-mail, or word processing. For more information call the Fiction Information Desk at (604) 925-7402. Registration is not required.