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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Calling it the eleventh hour, the Village of Fort Simpson is continuing its work to successfully relocate the John Tsetso Memorial Library.

The library is still offering its services from its current location in Dehcho Hall while government departments are steadily vacating the rest of the building. The village hasn't been given an exact date for when the library will have to leave the hall, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

Shanelle Arden, left, and Holly Norwegian play a game on one of the computers in the John Tsetso Memorial Library in Fort Simpson. Patron statistics show that youth ages six to 12 are the most frequent users of the library. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The task of finding a new location for the library has been a frustrating one, said Canvin.

"It's been one thing after another," he said.

The village has known since early last spring that Dehcho Hall would be closed soon and the library would have to move. The solution at the time was to move the village office.

The village's administrative offices were moved to the Visitors Information Centre so the library could occupy the vacated space, said Canvin. It was only after the village's staff moved that the problem, which is still bedeviling the plan, arose.

An engineer examined the building in September and found that it doesn't have the necessary structural support to hold the weight of the library on the main floor, said Canvin.

Canvin said there was never any question in his mind that after supporting the weight of the village office for years the building would be able to do the same for the library. The village council is still betting that with some modifications to both the library and the building the plan will work.

An engineer from Hay River is scheduled to examine the building this week and is expected to make a different decision, said Canvin.

The original engineer's report didn't take into account the strength of the building materials used, he said. The village has also changed its plans for how the library's collection will be housed.

The books, which have been reduced in numbers, could be stored downstairs while the tables and computers stay upstairs, said Canvin. Once the engineer reports on the renovations that are necessary, the village council will make a decision on its viability.

"We're not spending $100,000 to renovate the building," said Canvin.

If the village office option proves to be uneconomical the village council doesn't have a back-up plan. The council, however, doesn't want to see the library close, said Canvin.

"No one disputes the fact that the library is an important service we need to keep and maintain," he said.

The village has asked for the territorial government's help in finding a new location for the library in another government building but so far it hasn't offered a solution.

"They couldn't care less about Fort Simpson's plight to save the library," said Canvin.

Having the territorial government take responsibility for housing the library is something MLA Kevin Menicoche is pushing for.

The government currently provides space for the library in Dehcho Hall and it should now provide a new location, he said.

"The library issue in Fort Simpson is becoming critical and we need some space," he said.

Menicoche has contacted the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment, Municipal and Community Affairs, and Public Works and Services about providing a location. So far officials from the departments have verbally said they're aware of the issue but they haven't given any official responses, he said.

In the short term, Menicoche proposes the library should be allowed to remain in Dehcho Hall, at least until the spring. This would give the village time to renovate the village office, something the government should be helping to fund, he said.

Menicoche said he's been approached by a number of concerned residents who don't want to see the library closed.

"Lots of our youth utilize the facilities," he said.

Menicoche said he'll continue to push for the government to provide a solution during the legislative assembly's third session which starts on Feb. 4.