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West Vancouver Memorial Library Helen Davies, Chair West Vancouver Memorial Library Board On December 27, 1944, in response to a petition from 124 residents, the Corporation of the District of West Vancouver passed a bylaw establishing the West Vancouver Memorial Library (WVML). Then, as today, libraries in the province came under the authority of the British Columbia (BC) Library Act and were managed by a library board comprised of Trustees, community members appointed by the District Council. According to the Act, a Library Board must consist of an uneven number of members, not fewer than five or more than 13. Presently, the WVML Board has eleven members, including one District Council representative. A Library Board determines policies to manage the business of the library and regulates the use of facilities and provision of services. Along with developing a budget for consideration by the Council, Trustees assess community needs, determine library goals and objectives and regularly evaluate programs and services. When characterized as above, it all sounds a little dry and uninspired. In fact, my experience has been that the work is challenging and very rewarding. I am confident that what attracts people to volunteer their time as Trustee is a passion for reading, literacy and lifelong learning and a desire to make a meaningful contribution to their community. It is a pleasure working with library staff and members of the "Library Family," the Friends, Foundation and volunteers, as well as our colleagues at the District Flail, as we continue to provide excellent service, build on successes and, together, plan for the future. I would encourage any West Vancouver citizen who has a passion for libraries to consider volunteering on the Library Board as it is a tremendously gratifying experience. In the fall, watch for information in the Library foyer about how to apply to be a Trustee or contact the Director of Library Services (604-925-7424); I encourage you to consider putting your name forward and getting involved in your community. Focus on Preschoolers Did you know ? ■ Reading aloud to preschoolers stimulates brain neurons in a way that promotes healthy neuron development ■ Each child needs to develop identifiable skills in order to be ready to learn to read ■ Storytimes at the library are lots of fun, but there is more going on than just fun. Library staff consciously introduce books and activities that will help develop reading readiness skills ■ There are specific ways adults can interact with young children and books and stories that will benefit their school readiness The West Vancouver Memorial Library offers a range of storytimes for preschoolers, ranging from birth up to and including 5 year olds. In 2005, the Youth Department will be offering workshops for parents and caregivers designed to complement these storytime sessions. Workshops will help you make the most of the time you spend reading with your preschooler. Ask us about this new service in January!