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Pat Arbuckle Chronicle Staff After 43 years, Jim Brown has no regrets about his choice of library work as a careér. . "Basically I‘ve enjoyed my career," he said. "It‘s a uniqué service that we provide to the community, unique in that we serve not only a crossâ€"section of the population, but all ages of that population and that‘s why it‘s so important." _ The Waterloo Public Library Board recently anâ€" nounced Brown‘s retirement as chief librarian at the Waterloo library effective Feb. 16. Isabel Staal, currently deputy librarian, will succeed Brown. _ When Brown came to the Waterloo library in 1963 to serve as chief librarian, it was to a much different library in a muchfisAmaIIer.comrAr!unily. The Waterloo library was then housed in the old Carnegie building at the corner of Albert and Dorset Streets (the present location of Waterloo Division #3 of the Waterloo Regional Police). The building constructed in 1903, was completely inadequate to accommodate the 30,000 books already in the library‘s possession, Brown recalled. With an annual operating budget of $76,000, Brown had a significant task ahead of him â€" that of *"providing a library service to Waterloo," what he regards as his greatest accomplishment as librarian. o bffedint nds d t 0 l oane e ols Brown started his library career in his native England and emigrated to Canada in 1957 to work in a library in Smith Falls, Ontario. In his first years as Waterloo‘s chief librarian, he set to work "to revitalize the book stock and build it up." His first prioprity, however, was to provide Wateripe residents with a new library. This he accomplished when the new, modern library on Albert Street was constructâ€" ed in 1966 at a cost of $515,000. During his years of service to the library, much has been accomplished. The library‘s book stock has risen to a current level of 100,000 books. The reference library, which was virtually nonâ€"existent when he arrived, has been built up so that it more than adequately meets the needs of the community, according to Brown. The Waterloo Public Library has had an opportunity to take part in a unique experiment with its Parkside Branch â€" that of establishing a library in a community centre such as the Albert McCormiek Arena, a ventute which Brown described as extremely successful. The Waterloo library continues to provide books on almost every subject to Waterioo residents but during Brown‘s years as librarian, it added many other services including films, records, microfilm, microfiche, exhibits of the work of local artists, ongoing children‘s programs and university courses offered for credit or interest through the University of Waterloo. W“:;tevx-‘ltv)-(-):s‘155ifi-iflfi{vérsary also provided the library with an opportunity to establish a collection of books and memorabilia about the city. _______ _ râ€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"__â€"â€"â€"_â€"___'â€"__-___â€"â€"f * Offâ€"campus lecturers series help stimulate interest in universities Serving elgire city population reward for retiring librarian Homnty o o e e ns i ine Brown is looking forward to his retirement as a chance Pat Arbuckle Chronicle Staff For those who want to further their education â€"without venturing onto a university campus, Waterloo‘s two uniâ€" versities have the answer â€" offâ€"campus lecture series offered at local libraries, hospitals and businesses. Courses can be taken at various locations throughout the city free by the general public who attend purely for interest or as a regular university credit course, explained Kate Redmond, adâ€" ministrative assistant of partâ€"time studâ€" ies and continuing education at the University of Waterioo. UW offers approximately 30 courses each academic year in locations as far away as Walkerton, Hamilton, Missisâ€" sauga, Simcoe and Stratford in addiuo: m oo en ies R2rCCARA tA o oo e es. to libraries in Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo and Cambridge, St. Mary‘s and Kâ€"W Hospital and the Kâ€"W Art Gallery. All courses are part of the regular university curriculum and are taught by a faculty member. Most are provided through the arts faculty, said Redmond, although in past years programs in science, environmenâ€" tal studies and social work have been available. JVll-f;l& Laurier University Jim Brown steps down after 43 years also proâ€" vides a variety of general interest courses at the Kitchener Public Library and a series of business courses at Mutual Life Assurance Co. of Canada in Waterloo. The latter courses are deâ€" signed to provide the company‘s employâ€" ees with an opportunity to upgrade themselves. The programs have been offered, said Dr. J. Frederick Little, director of continuing education at Laurier to meet a demand in the community. "The university is supported by that community," he_ explained, and the courses were offered "to extend the services provided by the university to that community." _ Little has found that the offâ€"campus lecture program has been a tremendous success. The courses at Mutual Life regularly attract 35 to 40 people per 7 dZe NE o n s EC PRnsnoe Eooo e i F class, he said, while those at the library tend to draw a great many people who attend for interest, not a university credâ€" it. WLU is currently offering a 13â€"week course in English literature at the Kitchener Public Library which started Thursday, Jan. 6. No courses will be available this term at Mutual Life. UW started its offâ€"campus program in 1976 in response to frequent requests from community groups to offer courses â€"â€"â€"_â€"_â€"'â€"-_ Isabel Staal (left) will become chief librarian of theâ€" Waterloo Public Library Feb. 16 replacing the retiring Jim Brown (right). Mr. Brown has served as chief librarian for the past 20 years. Pat Arbuckle photo to "take things easy, travel and work on my golf handiâ€" Staal has worked at the Waterloo library for the past 10 cap." * years, seven as deputy librarian but she feels she will He recognizes that the future will present many have quite a, job ahead of her as chief librarian, challenges for his successor, however, created by the particularly in light of the many changes that will be ‘ntraductinn of comnuterization into the library system. taking place in the library in the near future. He recognizes that the future will present many challenges for his successor, however, created by the introduction of computerization into the library system. Although he admitscomputers will increase the efficiency of the present system, "the challenges are in knowing when to go into these things, what to go into and how to do it," he explained. _ REUMT EW TCO CY Te Eoo Meheye 2 on He also expects that with the increasing demands being made on the Waterloo library â€" according to a recent survey, 5,000 people use its services every week â€" a new community centre/branch library will have to be built in the near future. Brown has no doubts about the ability of his successor to meet those challenges. "I‘m pleased Isabel has gotten the job. She will do an excellent job for us," he said. **She knows the place, knows the people and I think that‘s important." . in other locations in the city. But it was also an attempt to extend the universiâ€" ty‘s services to those who wanted to continue their education but felt inâ€" timidated by the university and would not come on campus, explained Steve Jones, assistant director of partâ€"time studies and continuing education at the university. As Redmond explained, "it is a nice way for people to get familiar with a university course in a comfortable setâ€" ting." 1 1 7. s ~ew 0Ca EOIOs In planning the course to 6e offered, special consideration is given to areas that are topical with references to subjects of interest to the general public. said Jones. â€"Wcl}y to make it as suitable as possible to the particular audience,"" he added. â€" The offâ€"campus courses are extremely popular among older people in the comâ€" munity. o "1t‘s their main link with intellectual stimulation, the kinds of ideas and discussions that are happening in a university â€" situation," explained Redâ€" mond. Other participants are coâ€"op students who want to take an elective course while they are on work term. "fi;}.)}";‘d""'m'ue taking other off campus courses and eventually finish WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, ‘"‘There will be no change in policy as far as I‘m concerned," she explained, ‘"but we are going to have to expand one way or another, either by enlarging this building or by building branches. Waterloo is increasing its population by four per cent each year and the library has to grow with the city." But it was their degree either through a combinaâ€" e universiâ€" _ tion of offâ€"campus and correspondence wanted to courses or by coming on campus for the it felt inâ€" remainder of their course requireâ€" and would â€" ments. Staal feels that her major challenge in the coming years will be ensuring that funds are available to meet the costs of computerization, expansion and training of staff, in addition to the growing expense of operating a liâ€" brary. _""The Waterloo library has given good service up to now and it is up to us to continue it,"" she said. _ Redmond feels that an advantage of the offâ€"campus courses is that it allows "great flexibility for studies." UW‘s Department of Partâ€"time Studies and Continuing Education has simplified the admission procedures so that those taking credit courses offâ€"campus can register at the location of the course. They also have three weeks to decide if they want to work for a credit in any particular program. ‘"They can listen to a lecture or two before they commit themselves," Redâ€" mond explained," and they can decide whether they can handle the course Ex‘nples of _some of the courses offered by UW fyhis term include Spanish American Civilization at the Waterloo Public Library, Italian Renaissance Art at the Kâ€"W Art Gallery and Comparative Lifestyles and Selfâ€"Destructive Behavior at Kâ€"W Hospital. For more information on â€" offâ€"campus courses, contact the Department of Partâ€"time Studies and Continuing Education at the universiâ€" ties. 12. 1983 â€" PAGE 3 ow mtb uy & t >