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Friends' Funding Children's Picture Book Area Expansion & Decoration At our October 1998 meeting, the Friends agreed to contribute $6,780 to enhance and expand the picture book area in the Youth Services Department. This project is now nearing completion. Delivery and installation of the shelving is expected imminently; the furniture has been delivered; the Maintenance Department is preparing to undertake the necessary' painting; and work is proceeding on the signage. Once all the work has been completed, the Friends will be taken on a tour of the area. Book Cart for Continuous Book Sale The design and quotation for the mobile book cart has been received, but has exceeded the $1,000 amount approved by the Friends for this project in October of last year. Accordingly, the Friends will not be taking a vote on the additional funding required until our March meeting. Youth CD-ROM Collection In 1997, a circulating CD-ROM Collection was started in the Youth Services Department, jointly funded by the Friends and CIBC. Since that time, the Tibrary has put additional funding into the collection, which now numbers some 100 items. It has proved to be extremely popular and. although the loan period is only one week, most of the collection is checked out much of the time. Due to its popularity, at any given time young patrons find very few CDs on the shelf from which to choose. The Friends are being asked to provide funding of a further $3,000. This amount will fund the purchase of about 60 to 70 CD-ROMs, thus enabling a greater selection and a standard two week loan period. As usual, the Friends' contribution will be officially recognised. Access to Gaming Revenue At our February' meeting, the Friends agreed, in principle, that the "Use of Proceeds" proposal and budget to accompany our upcoming Application for Direct Charitable Access to gaming Revenue should be the funding of two group study areas. These would be booths with acoustic and glass walls furnished with a table and 8 chairs each. They would be situated along the east wall of the main floor and be achieved by the reconfiguration of existing seating. Before the Application is finally submitted, the Friends will be given a further opportunity for review. Fundraising Working Group A small working group is being convened to think up fundraising ideas; to study their feasibility and the amounts likely to be raised: and to make recommendations. Sophia Weremchuk is heading up this group. Those wishing to be involved - and/or pass on ideas -are asked to contact Sophia at: 925 0069