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May 2002 LIBRARY NEWS Library Foundation IS HARD AT WORK Very soon you will be receiving a brochure for the West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation in your mail. It is the time of yearfor the kickoff of the Foundation’s Annual Campaign. The Library is very fortunate to have access to the funds you donate to the Annual Campaign each year. In past years, your donations have been used to purchase additional copies of new and popular books, purchase new furniture, lighting and shelving for the West Wing, build the Story House in the Youth Department, purchase the self check-out unit, renovate the Kay Meek courtyard, design our website, build the computer training centre, provide public Internet stations and renovate the Musto Meeting Room. It is easy to see how much we depend on these funds for some of the special touches that make our Library unique. This year the funds you donate will be used to add more quiet study spaces and to purchase books on audiocassettes and additional copies of popular books. Our thanks to all of you who have donated in the past and I hope you will read the brochure when it arrives and learn more about the good work of the Foundation. 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 Website: www.westvanlib.org REFERENCE SERVICES We have heard that the killer bee, otherwise known as the Africanized bee, was introduced into Brazil and escaped from a breeding experiment in 1957, only to migrate north to the United States. This mistake has resulted in these insects killing hundreds of people and caused the falloff of honey production due to their raids on honeybees and their nests. Another well-known mistake was the escape of the Asian Gypsy Moth, known to wreak havoc in certain environments since 1866, which entered the United States and British Columbia as stowaways aboard a group of Russian freighters in 1991. But what don’t we know about? There are a number of mistakes of the sort given above. However one of the more fascinating potential mistakes is the saga of the Giant African (Land) Snail (GAS), Achatina fulica, smuggled from Lagos, Nigeria, into the United States sometime during the early 1990s to be sold for a hefty price to exotic-pet dealers. The snail, often referred to as a slug, weighs close to one pound and can eat an entire head of lettuce in one sitting. It has a voracious appetite and can attack a wide range of plants and crops, including cucurbits, legumes and papaya. According to folklore it guzzles beer and house paint, and it has even been legendized to consume rats. This creature should not be let loose in North America, as it was in Hawaii during the 1930s where it became such a nuisance. The authorities imported cannibal slugs to control it, and of course the cannibal slugs became a nuisance as well. In locations where GAS is a native species, it seems the population includes such items in their cuisine. A country with a population lacking a regular appetite for escargot would find an outbreak of GAS uncontrollable â€" very few countries have been able to eradicate this pest. Sources: - httpdpiâ-  q Id. gov. au.'hca Itli-'5613.htm 1 - Richard Stone, “Keeping Paradise Safe for the Natives.” Science. Vol. 285 (5435) September 17, 1999: p. 1837. - John A. Tranter, “The giant African Land Snail, Achatina Fulica, and other spe- cies.” Journal of Biological Education, vol. 27, no. 2 (Summer 1993): p. 108-112. - David Wallechinsky «& Aimy Wallace. The Book of Lists, the 90's edition. Boston: Little, Brown, 1993. p. 154. ADULT SERVICES IN THE GALLERY...Check out the Gallery at the Library for a special show featuring three talented North Shore artists on display May 1 to 30. “A Peaceful World” features oil and watercolour paintings by Ann Hurst. Ann’s impressionistic style focuses on strong colours and her goal is to capture a moment in time in her paintings. Ann also operates First Street Gallery in North Vancouver. Nicola Morgan’s untitled show features a series of acrylic paintings. A graduate of Emily Carr College of Art & Design, Nicola is inspired by colour, movement and texture. She strives to find the joy of discovery in chaos and search for optimism in glimpses of random beauty. “Interpretive Realism” features mixed media artworks by Edith Warner. Her subjects include florals, underwater views and landscapes. Edith’s works reflect her deep connection to nature. Reception, artists in attendance, Friday, May 3, 2002 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. AUTHOR VISIT RALPH KEEFER Military buffs will love this amazing story of two RAF fliers interned in Ireland during WWII. After bailing out of their twin- engine Wellington over Southern Ireland, Keefer’s father and his friend were detained in County Kildare, right next to a German prisoners’ camp. Ralph Keefer has recorded these colourful and often amusing events in Grounded in Eire. His perspective offers insight into this little-known aspect of the war and provides a testament to courage, friendship, and perseverance in the face of unusual obstacles. Join us for a fascinating evening talk with discussion, purchase a copy of Grounded in Eire, and enjoy some light refreshments. Date: Thursday, May 16, 2002 Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Place: Peter J. Peters Room This event is free, but please call 604-925-7402 to register.