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West Vancouver Memorial Library - Spring 2008 - Issue 16 The Inquiring Mind The Library: Your Starting Place for Genealogy Local History Did you know that the Library is a great place to get started on family and local history research? We always enjoy the challenge of helping people to trace their ancestors and research their family and community history. Here are a few ways the Library can help: We have microfilm copies of British Columbia's birth, marriage and death records - a great starting place for genealogists! We subscribe to Ancestry Library Edition, a made-for-libraries version oftheAncestry.com genealogy database. Here you'll find genealogical records from around the world. And , while individual subscribers to Ancestry.com must pay a subscription fee, anyone accessing Ancestry Library Edition through their library can do so for free. · We are part of a network of libraries around the world, and therefore can often borrow materials from other libraries, including the Library & Archives of Canada, on behalf of our members. Just try requesting a reel of microfilm from a library across the country as a private citizen! - you'll have much better luck going through your local library. Librarians are professionals with Master's degrees. They are expert, experienced researchers and can often suggest new directions for your research. Local libraries are treasure troves of local history. Visit the West Vancouver Memorial Library and you'll find microfilm of nearly every newspaper from the North Shore from the past century, old municipal directories, biographies of prominent local characters, clipping files, historical photographs, and much more. From the Director of Library Services Ann Goodhart We have just completed the survey of Library users that we conduct every few years. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your thoughts on the Library and its services. We value your opinions. Over 1,600 surveys were filled out during a 7-day period in January. The complete results are posted on our website (www.westvanlibrary.ca) under About Us > Reports > 2008 On-Site Survey. A print copy is also available in the Reference Department of the Library. The things we are glad to know for planning purposes: • 56% of you check out DVDs • Use of the website from home has increased from 37% to 48% in 4 years • Only 32% of you are aware that we offer e-mail and chat reference help on our website • Your priorities for the next 5 years are books, parking, DVDs and seating The things we are happy about: • 83% of you visit the Library several times a month • 90% of you rated staff 4 or 5 out of 5 points on helpfulness • 96% of you found what you were looking for or an acceptable alternative www.westvanllbrary.ca tel. 604.925.7400 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC, V7V 1J8