DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION
Even in the summer, Kirstin Boucher makes sure learning doesn't stop at Deninu School in Fort Resolution.

Kirstin Boucher, a graduate of Deninu School, is the librarian at the Fort Resolution Community Library, which is housed in the school. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Boucher is the librarian at the Fort Resolution Community Library, which is housed in the school.

"In the summer, I'm open three days a week," she said, noting that is from Tuesday to Thursday. "I usually work during the summer and usually during spring break. So I have the library open and I plan different activities for the kids to come in and do."

Boucher said one reason the library stays open in the summer is to keep children reading during their vacation.

"Plus, it's considered a public library, so this way it gives the general public a chance to come in too during the summer to pick out a movie or a book," she said.

The library is run by Deninu School under a funding arrangement with the Library Services Division of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

During the school year, Boucher works five days a week, and also has the library open in the evenings.

One of her focuses is to get the students at Deninu School interested in coming to the library.

"I really enjoy working with kids," she said. "I have a good relationship with all of them. I have no problems with any of them. They come in and even sit down and talk to me, and just hang out at the library."

The 30-year-old Boucher, who is originally from Fort Resolution, graduated from Deninu School in 2002.

She then earned a certificate in office administration from Aurora College in Fort Smith before returning to her home community in 2004.

That's when she became a tutor for students at Deninu School, and about five years ago was hired as the librarian.

At that time, she was approached by then-principal Mo Odeen and his wife, Bernice, who was the school's literacy coach. Both believed she would make a good librarian.

"Maybe they liked the way I worked with the kids before with the tutoring position," Boucher said of why the Odeens may have asked her to become the librarian. "I thought it would be something interesting to try, so I took the job."

She admitted it was a surprise to get an opportunity to return to Deninu School for a job.

"I was pleased to work in the school again," she said. "I really enjoy working with the staff. And now that my kids are going to school, it's kind of nice to have a job where I get to see them on a daily basis."

Boucher has three children, and two of them are in school - one in Grade 3 and another in Grade 4.

While she was pleased to work at the school, she recalled it was a bit of an odd feeling, because some of her younger friends were going to school when she started working there.

"So it was kind of weird, but I got used to it right away," she said.

When she first became the librarian, the principal and all of the teachers at Deninu School were different than when she was a student.

The Fort Resolution Community Library features a wide variety of books for students and adults.

That includes a section of Northern books by Northern authors, and children's books in the Chipewyan language.

"Our collection grew quite a bit over the years since I've been working there," said Boucher. "And we have one of the biggest movie selections within our area."

Plus, there are also magazines, and iPads on which people can listen to apps to learn various Dene languages, including Chipewyan.

Boucher said the library is well-used by students, but she would like to see more adults in the community take advantage of the reading and learning resources.

"We have a few that are regulars that come in with their children and they take out books and movies, but it would be nice to see more," she said, noting 30 to 40 adults are currently regular users of the library.

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