Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Mar 26/99) - Many people consider the Internet a giant cyber library, faster and better stocked than the real-life equivalent.

But to new Inuvik Centennial Library head librarian Grant Karcich, the technology is drawing residents to the actual library building rather than acting as a tool, pushing book stacks that will soon be obsolete.

"There are people who just come in to use the computers," says Karcich who has lived in Inuvik for two months after leaving a library job in southern Ontario.

"And once they are inside, they might see interesting books as they pass by to the computer. We're always changing the displays. One recently was on science when the kids were working on science projects and now there's one on parenting to coincide with a workshop at Aurora College."

The library's four Internet-capable computer terminals are so popular that patrons are limited to an hour time limit during the day and a 30-minute time limit for busy times such as late afternoons on weekdays.

Those who use the library computers are limited to the Web itself as the only chatlines would be available through sites such as www.yahoo.com.

No specific chatline shareware, such as ICQ or Internet Relay Chat, are accessible yet, though Karcich says the addition is an idea to look into.

Cyber-space can also better acquaint Inuvik residents with the library from the comfort of their own home.

Residents with a home Internet connection can scan the library's full collection through the NWT public library service Web site -- www.nwtpls.gov.nt.ca.

Once at the site, 10 stones surround Fort Providence elder Jean Marie Sabourin, with each linking visitors to different aspects of the library system.

From the on-line resources stone, visitors get to a site where they can scan the library's collection for a specific author, title or subject.

Other potential links include finding out how to get an electronic library card, how to borrow items by mail or how to get to regional library sites.

For those in settlements without libraries, one link shows how to get a bulk shipment of materials to the community as long as someone there agrees to act as a volunteer librarian.

But what has Karcich excited is the Inuvik library's own site -- www.inuvik.net/icl.

The site currently informs people about the Dick Hill collection and other library programs and community information.

Karcich says one aspect of the site he wants to expand is a photo gallery.

He is planning to scan some photos of Inuvik from Yellowknife's Prince of Wales Heritage Centre. Otherwise, he says, area residents could bring in photos of the area or well-known Inuvik elders and he could scan those photos and add it to the site.

"I hope people will use both sites," Karcich says.