Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug10/01) - The Inuvik Centennial Library is making digital copies of the town's history.

Thanks to a donation from the town branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, the library has a new scanner, digital camera and rewritable CD player. The total cost for these items was about $2,300.

The digital camera will be used to make electronic copies of the library's art collection, and the taking of photos of town events.

Since the end of June a student, Tim Robertson, has been hired to scan the collection. Dixon said that the Curtis Merrill Slide Collection -- containing 346 slides taken early in Inuvik's history -- are being scanned, just in case anything happens to the slides.

As well, many memorial programs (funeral bulletins) loaned to the library are being scanned. Dixon said more would be welcomed.

"The idea is they'll be put out for people to look at and if they want a copy we can print them from the scanner," Dixon said.

She explained that people might not have any photos of a certain person, except for the one in their program.

"We also thought it was just a really important part of Inuvik's history, to try to get that maintained."

As well, the library is a finalist in the community involvement category for the NWT in the Canada Post 2001 Literacy Awards. Dixon said the winner should be announced this month, but that just being nominated for the first time is great.

"That a member of the public recognized what we were doing and took the effort to do the nomination, I think, is satisfaction enough for us."

The Legion isn't the only source of new library funding these days. The Inuvik Lions Club has provided funds for a new reading table, worth about $1,200, including shipping.

Nora Dixon, head of library services, explained the table replaced the study carrels, which were not getting much use.