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original Park Royal Shopping Centre was built, and the lots in British Properties started to move. By 1955 West Vancouver's population was 18,000, necessitating new schools and facilities in the community. The new Library, built to meet local needs for 205 years, was too small before it was even five years old. it was severely overcrowded and an addition was clearly and urgently needed. The original library committee, who had worked so hard and so long to provide West Van with its library, were out of a job once it was completed, so they formed the Friends of West Vancouver Memorial Library whose purpose was to help the library in any way possible and set themselves the task of finding ways and means to help provide the necessary expansion. Col. George Smart was the founding President. In May 1955 they proposed that if Council could provide $20 000 the Friends would obtain the additional sum needed to build the extension. But the timing was not good - sharp tax increases had been levied on property owners, Council were reluctant to put out $20,000 and the matter was postponed. But in October 1955 the matter was reopened with a request for a plebiscite for the addition at the December elections. Council needed more information so councillor Mehaffey (by now Chairman of the Friends) invited the Reeve and Council to attend their Annual Meeting in November, to hear a report on why the addition was necessary and inspect sketch plans being drawn by the architect for the original building, R.A.D. Berwick. At that time it was planned to provide for the children s section upstairs and storage area below. Library membership was then 25,000 (more than any of the city branch libraries at that time). The referendum was held in December proposing that a sum estimated at $43,900 be spent from current funds for the construction of the addition. Although the overall vote was low, it passed by a comfortable majority. The plans were approved by Council on July 9, 1956 and construction began after the sod-turning ceremony on August 23rd. The official opening was on January 31, 1957. Coffee and cookies were served by [guess who] the Friends of the Library. Art shows became a regular feature from August, 1956 onwards, including works by local artists. Before long the Library had to face the fact that it was running out of space again, and when the house adjoining the Library at 1980 Marine Drive was for sale in January, 1958 the Board asked Council t0 buy it as it would be needed for further expansion. Overcrowding continued to increase and, in March 1960 it was turned over to the Library and connected to it by a covered walkway. Various minor changes of space use were made, including creation of a children s story room which was then furnished with seats and hassocks by the Friends, to accommodate about 30 children.