The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Computerisation The "Request for Proposal" - a vast tome of detailed, fully comprehensive system requirements - has now been completed and is being sent to eight different companies inviting them to submit their proposal to provide and install a computer system for all Library functions. Out of the eight ensuing submissions, the finalists will be asked to attend an intensive two-day interview. The first two weeks of May are being put aside for this purpose. While the finalists are in attendance at the Library, some public demonstrations will be held so that patrons can try out for themselves the catalogue viewing part of the system. Those participating in these trials will be given a rating sheet to provide feed-back. Members of the Friends wishing to participate will be advised the times and dates. The system is due to be installed and implemented during September and October, which will allow a testing period before the entire system becomes fully operational well before the turn of the century. Art Gallery The Visual Arts Committee have put together a very interesting programme for the .Art Gallery for 1999. A highlight of the upcoming exhibits will be that of the West Vancouver Sketch Club taking place in June. We have already enjoyed this year works by Dale Warke, Judy Prendergast and Mahnaz KianKhooy Fard. Those of Anne Zaleski and Darab B. Shabahang are currently on display. Next month, David Payne's "The Miracle of Flowers" perhaps might provide some inspiration for Mothers' Day! As mentioned last month, the Visual Arts Committee is most appreciative of the Friends' participation in the monthly artists' opening receptions. They are currently considering holding a series of ".Artists' Mornings" at which the exhibiting artists would have the opportunity of explaining their work to members of the public. These would probably take the form of the artist leading the group from picture to picture and finishing in the Peters Room for a question and answer session over coffee. The Friends' role would be to serve the refreshments and to attend when interested to ensure that the artists have a good audience. Meeting Dates As we have long been aware, the date of our regular meetings in the evening of the fourth Wednesday of the month clashes with the monthly meeting of the Historical Society. Although they looked into the matter last year, the Historical Society cannot change their date due to a series of limitations. It does seem unfortunate that two important West Vancouver societies, which attract a similar membership, clash in this way. At our February meeting, we discussed the possibility of changing either the day of the week or the time -or both - of our meetings. Enclosed is a brief questionnaire designed to help reach a consensus on this issue. Would those Members who regularly attend our meetings kindly complete this form and either bring it to the March meeting or telephone Maureen Eagle. The next meeting of The Friends will be on Wednesday March 24, 1999 at 7 pm in the Library's Peters Meeting Room Joanna Knight Ted Hill Maureen Eagle Man' Holland