The other important change has been the introduction of a new software system, which has provided library users with online access to the library catalogue and to their borrowing records. Another major development, and one which will be more noticeable over the next few years, is the revamping of the library collection. The collection is the essence of the library, and as such, must be relevant to the needs of users. Public libraries are required to provide the most diversified library collections because they must serve the greatest range of users.

Collection development is an ongoing, never ending pursuit. It is more than spending money to buy the latest book, magazine, video, or CD or book tape. Librarians like to think there is some coherent purpose to purchasing.

Because money has to be spread across so many types of material, purchases are carefully assessed and usually conform to requirements that are put forth as part of a collection development policy.

In recent years, the library has been weeding its book collection rather vigorously. Items which are outdated, shop-worn or beyond repair have been deleted. Replacement copies have been purchased when available.

The big problem these days is with fiction as most novels are published in hardcover in limited print runs. Once these are depleted, reprints are available only in paperback formats or not available at all. Publishers do not arrange print runs to suit libraries, only to satisfy their accounts departments.

We have been doing our best to replace discarded popular items with suitable replacements in formats that will withstand constant library use. So over the next few months, readers will notice a large number of new books, most being fiction.

Because of the volume of new items published each year, some old favourites disappear from a publisher's backlists. Authors who were popular ten or twenty years ago vanish or rely on reprint specialists to keep their books available.

Fortunately, the library has access to a variety of suppliers from whom we obtain a good range of items. Part of the fun is tracking down hard to get books and obtaining them for our collection.

It is just as important to provide readers with older books, as it is to purchase new items. We like to reacquaint ourselves with old favourites from time to time. The library hopes to satisfy the requirements of most of our users, so the refurbishment of our collection should help to achieve this.