Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 24/05) - Reading in the North just got a helping hand from the government.

School libraries in six communities in the territories will be converted into public libraries.

This means that proper staffing, and more information will be available for the general public.

The communities are Aklavik, Deline, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Fort Resolution and Holman.

The announcement was made by Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Charles Dent on Oct. 18.

Dent announced that this move would bring the number of public libraries in the territories to 15.

"This will greatly improve literacy in the north," said territorial librarian Alison Hopkins. "The will allow people the much needed literacy services that was lacking."

The $210,000 total budget will be spent on books, computers, and improved staffing levels, to expand services and hours at existing school libraries.

Guidance counsellor Fred Bonnell welcomed word of improvements to Deline's library.

"One of our biggest problems in our library is shortage of staff," said Bonnell.

"Now our library can function better, and this will mean a lot for promoting literacy with our youth.

"We now have a staff member with training in the library. I feel confident."

According to principal Velma Illisiak in Aklavik, the new material will be a great addition to a flourishing literacy campaign.

"Our school has a very good reading initiative. There are nightly programs in place for the kids, and now families can come in and read together at nights," said Illisiak.

In Fort Resolution, the community welcomes the new literature.

"Building our adult literature section will be a priority," said school principal Moh Odeen. "It's building a strong bridge between the school and the rest of the community."

New books have been purchased by the Territorial Library, and are expected to arrive in November, then will be distributed to the six communities.