Dez Loreen
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 9, 2008

INUVIK - Young readers in Sir Alexander Mackenzie school have a lot to be thankful for due to an increase in reading materials.The school recently received a grant from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.

"We applied for the grant to restock our library and enhance the literacy programs in the school," said Principal Janette Vlanich.

To apply for the grant, Vlanich said a video was made of the school's existing library services.

"We went through with a video camera and show footage of the old books and the state of our current selection for students," she said.

One of Vlanich's main concerns is that the material in the library is not suitable for the needs of the students.

"A lot of those books are outdated, most likely made in the seventies," she said. "It's just not relevant to our students."

Vlanich added the library needs more non-fiction books and she would like to see the aboriginal content increased and updated as well.

"We were very, very excited to find out we were accepted into the program," said Vlanich.

Ten per cent of the grant is awarded in cash and the rest is credit towards buying books and other materials from Indigo-Chapters.

The grant will provide the school with the equivalent of $36,000 every year for three consecutive years.

Vlanich said the cash part of the grant will go towards the existing program within the Beaufort Delta Education Council and District Education Authority to bring authors and presenters into the school.

"Now we'll have some extra money to assist with that," she said.