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- Outgoing library chairman leaves

‘members with ominous statistics

by Tod Strachan

"The numbers have changed and
possibly even the design will
change... But you will be hearing a
lot more." These were among the
opening remarks of library board
Chairman Willy Schneider at the
annual general meeting of the
Terrace Public Library last Thurs-
day evening. He was talking about
the proposed library expansion and
city council’s recently declared

- willingness to go forward with a

“November referendum that will
determine public support for the

project. -

The "numbers" Schneider
referred to meant the estimated
$1.2 million cost of the project, up
from about the original $1 million
due to inflation. And the "design"
was a two-year old proposal that
may now be updated.

Discussing a library expansion
wasn’t the first order of business,
however. Sixteen people, including
council representative Danny
Sheridan and regional district
representative Sandy Sandhals,
voted in the election of officers,
which ended with Judy Chrysler
replacing Schneider as chairman.
Schneider stepped down from the
chair following a successful term,
and the leadership change was

. described by Maureen Ogawa, who.

said to those present, “Willy is the
best chairman I've ever worked
with. He has shown tremendous
energy and efficiency.” And then
to Chrysler, "You’ve got the
hardest act to follow."

Re-elected as two year trustees
were Schneider, Ogawa, who
remains the board secretary, and
Mardy Lorimer, who will continue
as the board treasurer.

With the conclusion of the
annual general meeting, the regular
monthly meeting began. And
again, the library expansion domi-
nated the scene.

Setting the stage was librarian Ed
Curell, who told trustees that 1990
was the "busiest year this library
has ever had in it’s history", and
that January 1991 had set.a new
record in terms of membership
activity. During January 1991, the
library loaned a total of 18,708
items, which beat the old record of
17,804 set in January 1989 during
the School District 88 teachers
strike.

Drawing the obvious conclusion
from these facts, trustee Francis
Sabine was quoted as saying, "The
library really has a need for expan-
sion," and then noted their good
fortune that 1991 was to be the
"year of the referendum".

Information available at the
meeting offered the following
statistics, comparing the 1980 and
1990 annual reports:

*The area population has grown
from 10,251 in 1979 (1976 cen-
gus), to 17,172 in 1990.

‘In that same 11 year period,
membership has grown from 5,227
to 9,511.

*The number of volumes in stock
has increased from 34,002 to”
39,985. \
*Circulation has risen from 91,935
to 169,825.

*The number of reference ques-
tions answered has gone from
2,938 to 6,352.

These statistics led to another
obvious question —- during those
11 years, what changes have been
made to the library building itself?
Some important renovations and

maintenance work, but other than
thal, very little. A new roof was

installed in 1981, the building was [JF

repainted and new carpet installed
a few years back, some new
sheiving was installed a while ago,

some exterior lighting has been {|

installed. But aside from the
creation ofa relatively new part-

‘time Sunday staff position, the

library’s staffing, operating hours,

work space and storage space are —

unchanged.

What does this all mean? When
compared with space, staffing isn’t
a great problem. New computer
systems have helped the existing
staff keep pace with the growing
demand. But space is a serious
problem.

Using 1989 data, libraries in B.C.
average 3.89 books for member of
the community. Kitimat is close
with 3.09, while Prince Rupert and
Smithers are way over the average
with 4.87 and 5.89 books per
resident. Terrace, though, has only
2.87 books for every man, woman

and child. Why? We’re out of

shelf space. Around 5,000
volumes, about 12.5 percent of the
total number in stock, are already
stored in the library basement, and
the number is growing. These
books are available, but not readily
accessible.

Little wonder Schneider told
trustees last Thursday evening that
he was "very pleased" with coun-
cil’s recent acceptance of a fall
referendum. He did add, however,
that one final hurdle remains.
Library trustees have yet to con-
vince regional district directors of
the need for expansion and the
importance of their role in accept-
ing the referendum as well.

© PRE-INVENTORY
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THURSDAY FEB. 2e@

FRIDAY MARCH |
Everyth ing in both Stores 20%

SATURDAY MARCH 2
SUNDAY MARCH 3

wf 40% *

* DOWN QUILTS LESS 20%
* EXCLUDES COFFEE

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UNDERGROUND READING: Newly-elected Terrace library

board chairman Judy Chrysler tours a basement storage room
with librarian Ed Curell. The room holds half of the 5,000 volumes
listed in the library’s computer index but not readily accessible to
the library's 9,440 members. There is no space for them on the

main floor shelves,

City pursues grant |
money for planning,
organization work

TERRACE — The city has
applied for two provincial grants
that will help to complete the new
Official Community Plan and
implement a Municipal Manage-

ment Programme. City planner

Marvin Kamenz says the funds are
available through the Ministry of

Municipal Affairs 1991 Planning
Grant Programme. -
The first project, dubbed Phase II
of the city’s Comprehensive
Development Plan will cost about
$42,800, says Kamenz. If the
government grant is approved the
city’s share will be around
$10,700. He says this project will
develop land use options and host
public meetings to complete an
Official Community Plan already
under development. Phase I of the
project, which is now complete,
included an infrastructure analysis,
future and historic development
trends, and a forecast of popula-

‘tion, housing, commercial and

industrial growth in the area over
the next several years.

The second project, a Munici
Management Programme, has been
estimated at $58,000 and a grant
application has been filed for
$40,000 in provincial support. City
director of engineering Stew Chris-
tensen explains this program would
break all work activities into cate-
gories and assist in project track-
ing, detailed cost analysis and
improvements to future productiv-
ity.

Some management systems are
already in place, says Christensen.
An example is the computerized
sewer and water analysis system
which predicts the effects any
changes would have on either
service. Christensen says the city
expects an answer to both funding
applications in about three to four
months.

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