Dez Loreen
Northern News Services
Friday, May 11, 2007

INUVIK - Proposed changes to the library by-law have board members asking for involvement in the matter.

The Inuvik Centennial Library board said they were surprised by the town's decision to revise their by-law last month.

"We were shocked when we heard about the changes," said library board chairperson Peggy Jay.

"We wanted to know what was being changed."

Jay said she was given a letter from the town office in April informing her of the by-law review.

"The letter said there were proposed changes," said Jay.

"The by-law is in front of the revision committee."

Jay was told the by-law would be discussed in council on April 23. She attended the meeting to ask about the revision.

"We asked them to defer the decision because we felt there should be some input from the library on this," said Jay.

Jay said she feels the by-law revision committee should have had the library's input from the beginning.

"We felt there was no consultation whatsoever," she said.

"We were wondering if we did anything wrong."

Jay said the library has been in operation for 40 years come this July. Jay said she thinks the board has done a good job maintaining the services offered by the library.

"After 40 years in town, we felt we've had a good history," said Jay.

"Even Council told us we were doing a good job."

Jay said she wants the board to work closely with the by-law revision committee to find a version that works for both parties.

"We want to have changes that most of us will be happy with," said Jay.

By-law revision committee member Chris Larocque said the changes are needed to update the document.

"We're mandated to update these by-laws and some of them haven't been updated for 20 years," said Larocque.

"We're in the process of going through all of them."

Larocque said he knows this duty might not be welcomed by all.

"Working on this by-law committee is not a popular job," he said.

"You can't please everybody all the time."

Larocque said that the changes are only proposed and final approval has not been given yet.

"Nothing is written in stone," he said.

"There is still time for the public to have their say and voice their concerns."

Larocque said that if anybody has concerns they should talk with one of the town councillors or bring it up at the council meeting on June 11.