Behind This

by Kd llarnr'tt WILDWOOD CREST - Volunteerism and participation by the private nector are two of the ingredients in President Koagan prescription for keeping the country going while cutting- taxes and stocking a few more tnissiJ«s There is no evidence that Ronald Reagaan ever visited here If he did, he would find the concept of initiative alive and well. Witness the Wildwood Crest Public Ljbrar) • The name is a bit misleading The library serves all the Wildwoods. not just the Crest, and it s open4o1he public, but run,by a privately incorporated associa lion - AM), tALIKE most municipal libraries, it doesn't cost the taxpayers a penny unless they forget to return books oh time Private endowment of the arts and cultural institutions isn't exactly a new idea, of course Many of the .creative treasures of the past and present would not exist if it were not for the patronage of the noble in the past and the affluent in the present, siMkiSg a I.IHKAKY is also a lima.

Library Is An Ocean—and More

/ ,

honored idea. Lucullus, a Roman consul of the First Century C.C., earned a sizeable plug in Plutarch's Live* for collecting “many choice manuscripts and the use they were put to was even more magnificent than the purchase, the library being always open, and the walks and reading rooms about it free to all Greeks." tin an empire and time when throwing big bashes was commonplace, Lucullus also gainedltame for giving lavish feasts. Me even got into the English language, as in Lucullan banquet. Which shows the sort of neat, if not relevant, things to be picked up around a library.) THE HISTORY of the Crest library doesn’t go back to 100 B C. The first library of record in the borough was operated by the Parent Teacher Association on the Crest Pier through the 1960s Recognizing the need •fof better facilities, a group of clvic-ihinded businessmen got together in 1971 to provide them. In September that year, then Mayor Joseph Von Savage and the borough council approved an ordinance dedicating the beach block on Ocean Ave., between Wisteria and Columbine-Rds., as the site for the library.

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WASHINGTON. D.C. - The House of Representatives has approved legislation, authored by Congressman Bill Hughes (D-NJ), designed to curb the growing use of false 'identification in criminal or fraudulent enterprises. The legislation, coauthored by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-III), would make it a federal offense for anyone to produce bogus federal identification cards, or to counterfeit identification documents which are issued by state or local governments, if that production involves or affects interstate or foreign commerce. Violators would be subject to a 5-year prison term.

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THE ORDINANCE was passed unanimously, thbugh not without murmuring from some residents who believed beach blocks had been created by Providence expressly for the accommodation of tax-paying motels. •An association was formed to finance and operate the library. Funds were raised from th$ founding friends, public contributions, and a grant from a private founda-

tion.

The result was the opening in 1973 of the attractive informal brick colonial building, which sits back from the street on carefully manicured grounds facing the municipal tennis courts. PRESERVED BEHIND the building is an original sand dune, which is rare along the built-up Crest beachfront. Windows extending around three sides and interior chest-high book cases give the library an open look. It houses some 21,000 books, of which 1,500 to 1,700. are on loan from the county library William M. Smith, library director, points out that this gives Crest taxpayers a return on the taxes they pay for county library support. During June. July and August, a branch library, with 10,000 books, is operated on Schellenger Ave , Wildwood, in the building which also houses the library association office. THE LIBRARY HAS a 36,000 circulation year-round, averaging 200 a day. which may go up to 300 In thd summer. In order to keep its books at the shore when summer clients go home, the library requires a $10 deposit from summer / residents, \ "That might not be enough to pay for the ''books," says Smith, "but at the end of a vacation $10 looks better to most people than books they’ve already read." On rainy days — that bugaboo of resort towns — the library becomes a haven for the recreation directors of the surrounding

toiotels, who find it a peaceful — and quiet — place to bring their young and restless charges. ASSISTING SMITH are librarians Alice Harrison, Doris Gallagher, and Linda Hayes. Wes Thorne handles maintenance. It all sounds a bit modest compared to the millions of items in the Library of Congress. The Crest library doesn’t have the stone lions of the New York Public Library. Nor the age and tradition of England’s Bodleian. As an example of people getting together to provide a needed service, though — it’s perfect. And how many libraries have an ocean in their back yard? .

LIBRARY Director William Smith and Librarian Linda Hayes.

VA Imposes Address Fee

NEWARK^vJjmes R. Purdy, ttfrector of the Newark Veterans Administration Regional Office, announces that the Veterans Administration has decided to adopt a fee for searching for addresses of veteran^ff-om lists submitted Wy organizations

and otherjgroups.

The director stated that the present law prohibits the VA from furnishing the names or addresses of present or former members of the Armed Forces. However, the VA can, under certain conditions, forward a letter unless the purpose of locating the individual is for debt collection, canvassing, harassment- or propaganda or would result in physical or mental harm to the

recipient.

Purdy said due to the numerous requests received for assistance in locating individuals the VA has decided to charge $2 per name searched He emphasized that the charge

will be imposed regardless stated that VA regulations of whether or not jtn ad- authorize the imposition of

dress is found. He also the charge.

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