POND INLET (Apr 20/98) - Brandy Kanayuk is a confessed book lover so taking the position of librarian at Rebecca P. Idlout Library was something she couldn't pass up.

"I can read books all day if I have to, but since I have two jobs I can't really do that," said Kanayuk, who is also employed at the Northern Store.

Kanayuk became the community's librarian in September, replacing Philippa Ootoowak who is on leave until next year.

New books come in regularly through the headquarters in Hay River. But Pond Inlet readers can't seem to get enough adult fiction novels, according to Kanayuk. A book "block" periodically arrives from Iqaluit and most of those books consist of the most popular authors in the community -- Stephen King, Anne Rice, Danielle Steele and Johnathan Kellerman.

The last tome that Kanayuk read was Concubine's Children. Above all else, Kanayuk is a big fan of Danielle Steele's work.

"I love reading romantic novels. She's the best author there is, in my view," she said.

The library, built a few years ago, is named in honor of a former Pond Inlet elementary teacher and a Girl Guide leader.

"She was widely involved in the community and people felt that in respect to her, we should name the library after her name," Kanayuk said.

In order to encourage literacy, a writing contest for the community's children is in the works, Kanayak said.

Someday soon, residents of Pond Inlet should be able to send and receive e-mail and surf the Web. The library doesn't yet have Internet capabilities but it should be on its way in the next few months, said Kanayuk.

"It will be a lot easier for us regarding the requesting system and getting information about what people need to know," she said.