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Treasures of our Memorial Library Software and Audio-Visual Aids The growth of demand for these ancillary materials, over the past two decades, has been phenomenal. While interest in conventional books at our library shows no significant lag, the numbers of software and related items borrowed now is close to the numbers of books taken out. The bulk of various classes of items requested varies from time to time, partly because of the march of technology. Thus, audio (music) tapes are being replaced by the much more durable compact discs. And it happens that CD-ROMS stocked by our "Juvenile" Section are much more numerous than those in the Adult department. This appears to be due mainly to greater demand in the former. Perhaps West Vancouver parents deserve the main credit for this? So, what exactly are these items, so widely sought today, either as substitutes or supplements for books, or as newer forms of entertainment or instruction? Librarians regard "software" as meaning compact discs. Among the other media departing from true books, as such, one might include CD-ROMS, videos, audio tapes, cassettes, "talking books", and perhaps also jigsaw puzzles. (Yes: our library has a good stock of puzzles ready to loan, suitable for either children or adults.) To use a CD-ROM one must have a computer. But the variety of material offered in this form is staggering. Even the Youth Services Department of our library offers a range of almost 200 of these. Adult Services offer over 120. These cover such fields as 'The Canadian Encyclopedia", home medical needs, the human body, many languages, driver education, biographies, and so on. Of course, the range of compact discs is likewise immense, and the library also offers wide choices among the other audio-visual resources. Our so-called "talking books" are intended for persons with impaired vision, or for children with such problems as attention deficit disorder. Jigsaw puzzles on our shelves come in all grades of complexity. Those for youngsters may have only half a dozen pieces, while those for adults sometimes look almost impossible to assemble. Nearly all of these "resource materials" may be borrowed for periods of up to fourteen days. A great many, often accompanied by books, are distributed through our capacious Bookmobile. And what of the future of all these wonderful "aids"? Already many of them represent technical triumphs of high order. Their speed of development has been breathtaking, but undoubtedly further refinements are sure to come. Perhaps "virtual" presentations, or three dimensional videos? The volume of materials borrowed from this library is almost overwhelming, and demands a skilled and hardworking staff-- which, fortunately, we have. On balance, I am informed that there appears to be no great difference in the numbers of "borrowings" of books, as compared with the overall numbers of software and visual aids taken out. The "bare bones" figures on clients' choices provide intriguing light on the tastes of our patrons. For example, last year the tally of non-fiction items taken out reached 183,720 while fiction items numbered 86,103. In the class of "mystery", the numbers reached 34,480, while "science fiction" items numbered only 1,363. Total borrowings of paperback books were recorded at 84,942, while large-print items reached 18,058. The tally for CD's was 51,396. Our librarians inform me that the most popular category of "lendings" covers Biographies, Travel and History. Next in line comes a group that includes Cooking and Gardening. Through all the burgeoning marvels of modern communications, the traditional place of straightforward books remains rock-solid, apparently assured forever. What could possibly surpass, for most of us, the timeless pleasures of losing yourself, at your own pace and with your own thoughts, in the pages of a really good book? Ted Hill