Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

CAMBRIDGE BAY (Apr 26/99) - The books are here, maybe more than there was before the fire, but there's no place to put them.

"We're running out of space and people are running out of patience," said Kim Crockatt, chairperson of the community's library advisory committee.

The library went up in flames in a blaze last summer that also destroyed the high school and heritage centre. Since then, books have been donated by concerned people from across the North and across the ocean.

Trouble is, there's no place to put them. There's not even enough space to catalogue and label all the new books. The new library is scheduled to open 2001. In the meantime, it's up to the hamlet to find a space to use as a library.

"We've made it clear we don't want anything fancy," said Crockatt.

The issue will probably arise at a council meeting on Thursday. Kiilinik High School principal Elliot Johnson is scheduled to inform the hamlet of the impact going without a library for a school year is having on his students.

"It's had a major, far-reaching impact on students here," said Johnson. He said most of the learning at the school requires students to do research. Without a library, there's no resources for them to draw on.

Mayor Wilf Wilcox said the community is just recovering from a busy few months that included Nunavut celebrations and hosting the annual general meeting of the NWT association of municipalities.

"There is no interim plan yet," said Wilcox. "It's a matter of finding a spot for it, one that's affordable."

Meanwhile, across the ocean, support for the library and a new cultural centre continues to pour out of Cambridge University.

A host of events, including a gala dinner, lecture, photo exhibit, electronic book sale, are being planned and carried out by Canadians and others at the renown British school.

Cambridge University's Howarth Penny has rallied support among Canadians at the school beginning shortly after the fire. Penny was visiting the community at the time, and witnessed the fire.

Saddened by what he saw -- books, manuscripts and irreplaceable oral histories all taken by the fire -- he resolved to help out upon his return to England.