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INUVIK - For the second time in a year, the book fair committee at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school is donating a large supply of books to the Inuvik Regional Hospital.

The committee, which comprises four of the elementary school's teachers, is keen on donating its recent profits to the hospital.

The book fair committee at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school has been busy preparing for this weekend's fair, as well as a donation to the hospital. The committee is getting a shipment of new books ready to give to the hospital. They are, from left, Christina Pierrot, Joan Aucoin, Mary Ellen Binder and Isabel MacIsaac. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Grade 3 teacher Isabel MacIsaac said the initiative was started last year, after the group realized its sales weren't benefiting a local cause.

MacIsaac explained there are four book fairs held every year, with three of the fair's profits going to the school.

The fourth fair was to provide books for southern hospitals. Half of the money raised in Inuvik would be sent south.

"We wanted to find a way to support our local hospital," said MacIsaac.

MacIsaac has been involved with the fair for the past eight years and is now chairperson of the committee. Christina Pierrot, Mary Ellen Binder and Joan Aucoin are the other three members of the committee in charge of the fairs.

Scholastic Canada, which supplies the book fairs, said the last book fair would benefit southern hospitals.

"The money was to go to a children's hospital in the south," she said.

"I started to think about it and it's not very fair because we don't have a children's hospital here."

After connecting with Scholastic, MacIsaac worked it so a portion of their proceeds would stay in town and benefit Inuvik Regional Hospital.

"Last year we made a donation of $1,100 in books to the hospital," said MacIsaac.

Binder added the books were brought into the transient centre and acute care wings of the hospital.

"That donation was made last spring," she said.

MacIsaac said the group raised $2,493, half of which will go to the hospital in town.

"We've already got $1,250 worth of books here at the school and we're waiting to make the delivery," said MacIsaac.

The books came in during the first week of September but the books needed to be catalogued first.

"We hope to get the books out there within the week or so," said MacIsaac.