Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

CAMBRIDGE BAY (May 17/99) - The power of the pen, particularly pens wielded by students, was a big help to those fighting to get a temporary library up and running here.

At a meeting held two weeks ago to discuss establishing a temporary library, 27 letters from students went a long way toward impressing upon the hamlet council the urgency of the problem.

The community has been without a library since last summer, when a fire destroyed the school, library and heritage centre. Since then donated books have been pouring in from all over the world. With no temporary library space, however, the books have been in storage.

"What had the most impact (on council) was the student input," said Kiilinik high school vice-principal Judy Cherniak.

At the meeting were Cherniak, library advisory committee chairperson Kim Crockatt, hamlet officials, Mayor Wilf Wilcox and representatives of the territorial Department of Public Works.

Money, not space, is the main hurdle, said Cherniak. There are empty buildings in the community, but it would be prohibitively expensive to bring them up to the standards required of buildings associated with schools.

Along with the importance of libraries to students, hamlet representatives were informed of the work involved in getting the library up and running once a space is found.

The lengthiest part of that process will be cataloguing the donated books.

"Most of the people who weren't involved in libraries didn't realize how lengthy a process it will be," said Cherniak.

Asked if she felt more or less optimistic after the meeting, Cherniak said, "Yes. I certainly felt more optimistic that everybody was on the same wavelength."

The goal now, said Cherniak, is to have a temporary library up and running by the start of the next school year, in August.

Another meeting was scheduled to take place last Friday between Wilcox and others involved in trying to find a space for the library.