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Today you can learn about mending faulty fuses and plugs without turning the page of a handy bane You can enjoy the two volumes of 'rolstoy's "War and Peace" without ever readingthebook. Films are-a new addition- to libraries And'you can help your son learn the basics of hockey _ withotgt_ “gazing to de'ath by rink side at four o'elock in the morn- ing. _ - . As any modern public library' can tell you, it's all part of the information explosion - that today makes the flick of a switch, the push of a button and the plugging in of, 1 jack as much a part of library work in the twentieth cen- tury as stretching papyrus may have been many years ago. At the headquarters of the Midwestern Regional Library System, Kitchener. for example, more than $20,000 is spent annually on 16 mm films that are previewed, purchased and distributed to participating libraries in the Region of Waterloo, and in Perth, Huron and Wellington Counties. Established in 1968 to coordinate public library services in this area. Mid- western selects the films from catalogues provided by the National Film Board, International Tele- film Enterprises. the British Broadcasting Cor- poration. Educational Med- ia Inc., and many other national 'and international outlets. "We work with a com- mittee of staff from sev- eral libraries to select an average of three full-length 16 mm films - or film series - a month," said Peter Kienitz, Midwestem's coordinator of audio-visual services. Recent acquisitions, for example. include the films: "How to Say Tlo' to a Rapist and Survive": the "Howie Meeker Hockey Series" ' "Birth Control: Five Effective Methods"; and a wide range of other titles. Several libraries such as Stratford Public Library and the Huron County Li- brary System offer popular courses to patrons on the proper care and handling of films. equipment main- tenance, film cleaning and loading and other techniques Emphatically. however, Midwestern isn't interested in putting the book bus- iness out of business. "Books will always be the pivot of any library service," said Peter Kienitz, "or certainly in the fore- seeable future. But li- braries need to keep pace w.itAilryipee.ts. .er.tyt.ttyrr- ing and providing inform- ation - and films are one 'rarot_doi_ntrtttls." -- Similarly, about too fic- tion and nmr-fietimt works have been handled by Mid- western, that have nothing to do with print or lyndpg. They’re' the cNrtriiro- duced "Talking Books" - small audio cassettes for those with visual or physi- cal handicaps who cannot read regular or large print books. Professionally read, the "Talking Books" can be played on standard cas- sette recorders with a listening time of four to nine hours depending upon the length of the book. Midwestern introduced Talking Books into public libraries in early Septem- ber 1975, although Kitchener Public Library already had its own comprehensive collection. "We began with about 70 titles," said Peter Kienitz. "but demand has been so so great that we've placed a standing order with CNlB to buy every new book they produce." In fact Midwestern is also looking for other out- lets to keep pace with de- mand. Some tapes, for example, are being pur- chased from The Cassette Book Shop, Elmira. As well, Midwestern re- cently purchased dupli- eating equipment that will be used to reproduce cop- ies of the more popular works on demand. Talking Books are dis- tributed to libraries, with Midwestern acting as a clearing house for repairs, interlibrary transportation of tapes and new acquis- itions. Each costing about $12, Talking Books are avail- able free in most libraries on provision of a doctor's certificate stating that a borrower is unable to read regular works for whatever reason; borrowing time is anywhere up to three months. Midwestern has also purchased several playback units for the books which are also dis- tributed to libraries. Reference work - or In- formation Services as ‘it is commonly called in ttF day's library parlance - also benefits from audio- visual material. Today there are over 200 special video tapes available to patrons in Waterloo and Kitchener public libraries that can be viewed on playback units in study cartels for reference work. Purchased by Midwest- ern from the Ontario Edu- cational Communications Authority, the video tapes cover many subjects - tra- velogues, home repair, Indian legends and folk- ', Regina] it!!!“ itiltsttr- Midgaa‘am's audio visual specialist. PI ’brarv's recently acquired film equipment. lore, and the education of handicapped children as well as several tapes in Designed to give patrons another information di- mension to use when need- ed,, the program was in- troduced on a trial basis last summer and, if suc- cessful, will expand to other libraries. which are of particular relevance for this area. Midwestern again is re- sponsible for watching out for available material, purchasing it where nec- essary, monitoring tape damage, cleaning P and re- placement. "Series like this can be very valuable as part of a library's way of initiating rather than providing in- formation," said "Peter Kienitz, "and if it goes well we'11 consider other series on different topics. " Video tape programming doesn't stop there, how- ever, Midwestern recent- ly acquired the excellent "Youth in Trouble“ series from the Public Television Library, Washington, D.C., that it is making available to libraries on a trial basis to show to local patrons. The need to encourage libraries to make use of video tape equipment for in-house programs, pro- motion and other work. is also part of Midwestern's mandate. A new video camera. as well as the playback units, have been purchased as part of Midwestem's de- termination to help librar- ies make their own video tape programs and become increasingly familiar with this aspect of audio-visual work. "Libraries can use video tape to film children's story hours, or show the information services divi- sion at work, or devise programs that help patrons use. .the. card catalogues., ' and would be a natural extension of their present information function.” Already Midwestern has arranged a video workshop for libraries in late Novem- bet conducted by Paul Avon, OECA, and recently coordinated a National Film Board-sponsored sem- for example," said Peter Kienitz. by libraries and used con- stantly - not just once or twice onlytohediscarded. "They could help librar- tionin films. Midwestern also looks to the future. New equip- ment and atrdio.visuat techniques are studied and information passed on to libraries. Film and video tape catalogues are prepared and revised con- stantly. Expansion of existing programs is plan- “Midwestern's job is to help all public libraries. no matter what their size, provide a high standard of service to patrons, and atrditrvitttya1 services are one aspa'of that work," said Peter Kienitz. tsatrvatsoesitr,rfite8err (WW-(mm) 7450130. After tum 5734154 HAVE YOU DELAYED PURCHASING A MEMORIAL PHONE OR "YME m TODAY. WE CAN Asswr YOU. SUPERIOR MEMORIALS Petot Kionitz. demonstrates the use of some of the regional li- thémselves ttlMtettttt tittmtt1rft,_T1aqhr . 0W " My, 'lestyya off Ruritmeihart Auction Sales Co. 744.9679 578-0 1342 WEBER ST. EAST. KITCHENEB Starts Saturday . December 27th CLOSED FOR I'VEIIORV IUESOAV DECEIIEI "th (Across from Hi-Way Market on Walnut) OPEN DAILY In In. to ' 9... Sat. 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