Kivalliq library closes doors, awaits new funding

Arviat’s Donald Suluk library has been closed since the end of March, while the centre waits on new funding for 2015-16. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ULTIMA THULE)

Arviat’s Donald Suluk library has been closed since the end of March while the local organization that runs it waits for a new round of funding.

The District Education Authority in Arviat has run the small library for the last several years with funding from the Government of Nunavut’s department of Culture and Heritage.

But the roughly $50,000 the DEA receives each year from the GN usually comes at the beginning of the fiscal year, which runs from April 1 to March 31.

And depending on how long it takes the department to process its request, that can leave the library without funding for weeks at a time, forcing the DEA to close the building temporarily.

The Arviat DEA told Nunatsiaq News it has applied for funding in 2015-16 and is waiting for the GN’s response.

But members of the DEA have asked the GN if it can speed up the application process or provide longer-term funding to avoid having to close the building, which the DEA also had to do for a period in 2014.

In Arviat, that GN money pays the wages of a librarian and one casual worker, as well as some programming and office supplies.

The Donald Suluk is a small building on one of the Kivalliq community’s main streets, which hugs the Hudson Bay shoreline.

And the centre offers a selection of books, magazines, DVDs, a television and computers. The DEA said the library used to offer an internet connection, but had to cancel the service when the library went over budget in 2014.

Now, the library serves primarily as an after-school drop-in centre for youth in the community who come to read, watch films and do homework after school.

The Donald Suluk library is usually open from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays; Tuesday mornings and Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The DEA told Nunatsiaq News their funding request is being processed and that the organization should hear back in the coming weeks.

But for now, the library’s sole librarian has been temporarily laid off, while the DEA waits on funding to re-open.

The department of culture and heritage has not yet responded to Nunatsiaq News’ request for information on the funding application.

The GN funds 11 community libraries in Nunavut.