Holman (Apr 07/03) - Just two months after the library at Helen Kalvak school opened its doors to the public, residents have now been shut out.

The library was included in the $4-million addition to the school in January. It was celebrated as a first for Holman less than two months ago.

In February, the library began opening its doors to the public two nights a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, family literacy co-ordinator Joanee Ogina organized special activities for kids and their parents to read and have fun together.

But as of March 31, funding for Ogina's job and a library worker position had gone dry and the library is now shut down once students get out of class.

The funding for the library positions had been provided by the Holman Community Corporation's Brighter Futures program and from Education, Culture and Employment's community literacy fund.

Frieda Maaskant, member of the Holman Community Library Committee, said she has been writing up proposals for funding over the past few weeks, but hasn't heard any promising news yet.

"We're hoping to get renewed funding again but it's a yearly project.

"So we're kind of at that transition now where the funding for this year is over and we are hoping for the proposal to be accepted so we can continue again. But right now, we don't know," she said.

The situation looks bleak right now. Brighter Futures has already denied the funding request.

"So now I have re-applied with the community literacy funds project and hopefully we will find out before the end of April," said Maaskant.

Sarah Kuptana, Brighter Futures co-ordinator for the Holman Community Corporation, said the funding request was one of several proposals that went before the board of directors last month.

"The HCC approved the ones they thought were higher priority and they sent their apologies to everyone who was denied," she said.

HCC chair Joseph Haluksit said he was not present at the meeting last month when the project proposals were approved. Board member Peter Malgokak was the chair during that meeting. He was not available for comment last week.

Kuptana would not provide any information about projects that were favoured over the library initiative.

Brighter Futures provided $3,374 for the library positions last year. The school requested $14,846 for the year 2003-2004.

The proposals approved by the HCC board have been forwarded to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation's regional wellness co-ordinator in Inuvik. They will then go to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for final approval.

Kuptana said she is not aware of any type of appeals process for those who have been denied funding.

"But they are always encouraged to re-apply again at re-allocation time. That is usually in the fall," she said.

Sue Glowach, director of communications for ECE, said the department is only responsible for providing funding for student initiatives.

"In most places the municipality or the hamlet takes responsibility for funding the library," she said.

But Mayor Gary Bristow said it should be ECE's responsibility to fund community-based family literacy programs.

"They (ECE) should be the ones to do something. The better the kids can read the easier it is for them to learn," he said.

Bristow noted it is becoming increasingly difficult for organizations to get funding for community-based literacy projects.

"I think that's one of the things that has been sliding through the cracks with the whole education system over the past few years.

"Reading and writing, when I went to school, was a major issue. But I don't agree with their teaching methods nowadays," he said.

Maaskant said it would be a shame if the library does not re-open to the public.

"It certainly would be unfortunate because a lot of people made use of the library during the evening hours."