Take time today…and this week…t0 reflect on the role of books. Why’? Because April 1-7 is National Library Week – a time to recognize the worth of reading as a route to pleasure, wisdom, and intellectual growth. ‘”Books can be your best friends,” says Larry L. Hortin, Provo City library director. Interestingly his comment and the national observance follow the first downturn the Provo Public Library has encountered in book and non-book circulation in years. Mr. Hortin disclosed that February 1979 circulation dropped to 46,126 from the 48,517 for the same month in 1978 for books, audio visual materials, and other check-out items. His diagnosis of the downturn; Expecting the November 1978 bond issue for a new library to pass, the library board cut the allocation for new books for 1979. (The proposed bond defeated by a slim margin, had made provision for extensive expansion of the book inventory.) Circulation has dropped this year “because we simply don’t have the new books the people are asking,” the library director explained. He said the need continues to exist for new public library facilities for Provo and said many new libraries have been provided by neighboring cities in recent years. The Provo library. like some of the other libraries of the area, is planning some activities in connection with National Library Week. We recommend that you attend the open house scheduled Friday. April 6 between I and 5 p.m. when guided tours will be held; also that you take note of the family movie slated Monday, April 2 at 5 and 7 p.m. While books are the heart of a library. the institutions of today have broadened their services. For example, visual aids, paintings, items of sculpture, cassettes. records, projectors, etc. can be checked out. What are the most popular checkout items -at the Provo library? The latest fiction books, paperbacks, historical novels. books on prenatal care, child rearing, cookbooks, cult and “how to do it” books top the list, reports Mr. Mortin. The library director stressed that there is a growing demand for books and non-book items. despite the February downtrend in circulation. The children’s department is exceedingly popular and gets a lot of usage. Programs in this category include a preschool story hour, puppet shows, and the family movie hour. Library Week can have real meaning in our lives if we use it to cultivate appreciation for good books and to motivate families in exploring deeper into the world of knowledge, adventure. and selfimprovement through reading. So They Soy “If, God forbid, our foreign (enemies) have their way, we would be pushed back to square one.” – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomelni, urging hls followers in post-shah Iran to vote for the creation of an Islamic republic. “I think we should consider seriously the need for government intervention to protect the very young from un air commercial exploitation.” – Jullus Richmond, U.S. surgeon general, suggesting tooth decay – “the No.1 chronlc dlsease of chlldhood” – ls linked to advertisements telling kids to eat sugared foods. “Yeah, I think so. I like to drink. And I like women, and I’ve probably been a lot softer than I should be on occasion with them. And a lot tougher on some men mainly mylself.” – John ayne, saying (on ABC.TV) that his tough guy Hollywood image accurately reflects his own personality.