SE pe = by Tod Strachan As described by Terrace Public | Library board chairman Willy Schneider, the library expansion. Project is a very "competitive" project. The competition? A pro- posed community/convention center, something that Schneider | - Says is "much easier politically to sell". "Let's face it. There’s an election coming up and the mayor’s job is on the fine," he says. Schneider made these comments during an address to the Terrace and District Chamber of Com- merce last Thursday. He also sug- gested the the library board was going to become more aggressive in selling the library expansion idea to city council. But while he takes a hard line on the compar- ative values of these two commun- ity projects, Schneider doesn’t necessarily think of a community- convention center as a bad' idea. But he does think it’s potential value is much less than an expanded library facility. "There's support for the idea," he admits, speaking of the community center. "But whether it’s justified or not I don’t know." He points out, "We don’t have people knock- ing on the door to hold conven- tions here," and asks, "Do we have the infrasturcture to support it? Can we house 500 people?" He then described the growth of our public library since it began unofficial operations in 1929 with a few books and a couple of volunteers. In 1952, the province recognized the need for a library here and the Terrace Public Library was officially established. It was housed in a couple of "dingy" rooms beside the old Prov- incial Police Building and from there managed to fill the com- munity’s needs until the mid-1960’s. It was only a little more than 10 years before the demand had outgrown the facility and we were headed for our first library expansion. ‘This came about in 1967 when we saw the official opening of Terrace’s Centennial project — a new library in George Little Mem- orial Park. It was a proud moment for the community, but in five and books "W.C.B. Industrial First Aid Training Course in Terrace Date: June 4 to June 15 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday Place: Mills Memorial Hospital Fee: $300 includes W.C.B. exam instructor: Roger Cloutier For information or to register call: 845-7752 | Days or Evenings || Sponsored by Northwest First Ald Training Agency | WILLY SCHNEIDER: We don't have people. knocking on the door to hold conventions here. years this building was also too small and a mini-expansion took place. A minimal but adequate 236 square feet of floor space were added. This is the building the library operates out of today, but at the time of that mini-expansion the ’ demand for library services had really just begun. By 1987 the building was “bursting at the seams". In a period of only 10 years, membership had climbed from just over 5,000 to almost 9,000 and circulation had risen from about 92,000 volumes per year to over 165,000. Part of this was due to a policy change. Prior to 1980 library ser- vices were free to a Terrace popu- lation of 10,251, while those living outside the community were required to pay an annual member- ship fee. In 1979, though, a refer- endum gave the regional district the authority to pay an annual fee to the library on behalf of greater Terrace area residents, and the population with free access to library services nearly doubled. This population figure has remained fairly static since that time but the growing demand for Board set to push for library services hasn’t. Member- ship numbers continue to grow. In 1988 there were 8,807 registered members and in 1989 that number had grown to 9,511, an increase of eight percent. The current proposal for a second major library expansion would cost about $1 million and add about 4,000 square feet of floor space as well as complete a number of renovations, says Schneider. An answer on a Go B.C. application ihat would pay for one-third of the project is pending. The expansion would solve the problem of the "sitting duck” — the bandshell — says Schneider. He has nothing against the band- shell itself. It’s just that the city forgot to provide or require that washrooms be built for the con- venience of the public who attend events there and their absence has — meant a taxing of the single library washroom. It would mean library staff wouldn’t have to spend long hours in an undersized workroom with no windows, venting or air condi- tioning -- and poor lighting even with the leaking overhead skylight. And it would mean better access to more books for the reading public. At-the present time, says Schneider, for every two to three new volumes put on the shelf they have to remove at least one older volume from the shelf and put it in their already over-filled basement ‘storercom’ There are already 5,000 publically inaccessible volumes in that storeroom and Schnider esti- mates that this number will grow to about 6,000 by the end of this year. This at a time when eight percent of the Canadian population can neither read nor write and another 17 percent are "func- tionally illiterate" — they can’t put together the few ideas they are able to read, And these numbers are for the Canadian population. They’re much higher in B.C., where an | THE SIGN OF A GOOD BUSINESS - NEIGHBOR... THE SIGN OF A MERCHANT . WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE... This emblem identifies the civic-minded businessmen who sponsor Hetone Wig. in the community. Karen — 638-0707 Erlinda — 635-6526 Brenda-Lee — 635-2605 Terrace Review — Wednesday, May 16, 1990 AS library project average of 24 out of every 100 people are functionally illiterate. One solution supported by the province is to offer better access to appropriate reading material... if you can find a place to keep it. Schneider says the library board is ready for a fall referendum. In fact, "We already thought we were going to be on it,” says Schneider. And he says the board is ready to help the city with the process in any way they can, whether that means explaining the need for the expansion to voters or going out door-to-door and raising the neces- sary funds to build it. They believe in the need and they’re ready to do the work. And as far as the project and the referendum process was concerned, Gerry Martin was one of several. chamber members who offered varying degrees of support. "From a business point of view the con- vention center is more appealing," Martin told Schneider. "But from a quality of life point of view the library is better and the people should be allowed to decide." City council examines a different kind of litter by Tod Strachan The problem of "domestic animal droppings” was brought to the attention of Terrace alderman Ruth Hallock a couple of weeks ago and she has since asked city council what can be done. According to Hallock, the problem stems from horses and their all-so-natural yet offensive "gifts" left on city road- ways and walkways. Hallock suggested the Nuisance Bylaw might be enforced and provide a solution, but Mayor Jack Talsira wasn’t sure. "Perhaps administration can take it under advisement," he said evasively, apparently trying to avoid public discussion on the topic altogether. But this didn’t slow the How of debate, "The problem is," adminsistrator Bob Halisor responded, "you have to witness ’it’ at the time and take appropriate action." He didn’t. define the term "appropriate action" but alderman Danny Sher- idan said, "It’s the finest thing you can get for your garden.” Presum- ably this means, “Pick ’it’ up and take “it? home." This answer didn’t satisfy alderman Darryl Laurent, though. He wanted to know: "What is immediate action?" The question wasn’t answered. Hallsor suggested instead that once bylaw enforcement officer Fern Sweeting is on patrol with tickets in hand, she will know what to do. Still not satisfied, Laurent asked, "What if it’s a private citizen?" Hallsor responded: "There’s noth- ing stopping a private citizen from noting the offence and testifying against the offender." From some- where among the aldermen present came the retort: "What about col- lecting the evidence?" The mayor, feeling things were getting a little out of hand, called for a motion. It was sent to the Finance, Personnel and Adminis- tration Committee for further dis- cussion and no more was said. But this was probably one of ths scost spirited discussictis in coge2it far some time amd = i ent te, considering it wei = pultical debate, the most appiopraic icpie of the day. l Renovation Sale 15% OFF all Art Supplies / 25% OFF Chairs Computer Furniture MANY IN STORE SPECIALS 4554 Lazelle Avenue 635-7181 Terrace, B.C.