Puvirnituq, Quebec (February 26, 2020) – It is with immense joy that representatives of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq—the school board of Nunavik, the northern village of Puvirnituq and the Réseau BIBLIO de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-du-Québec (ATNQ) inaugurate today the municipal wing of the school-municipal library located at Iguarsivik School in Puvirnituq. All residents of the village will now have access to books and documentation in 3 languages, which they can borrow or consult on site.

In Puvirnituq, the school library has been in operation since winter 2018. Once teachers and students had tested it out, the library opened its doors to villagers. “This is an extremely positive project for Iguarsivik School,” said School Principal Robert Chauveau. “We want the library to become a welcoming place for sharing. We intend to offer activities that will bring parents, kids, and elders together to share ideas. Our vision with this project is to build a bridge between the school and members of the community,” he added.

The library will announce its activities on the Iguarsivik School Facebook page and on the village’s FM radio. The library hours for village residents are:
Wednesday from 5 – 7 pm
Saturday from 1 – 3 pm

“We are especially proud of this partnership with Réseau BIBLIO ATNQ. Since 2015, it has allowed us to upgrade the school libraries in some of our facilities, and provide access to a wide range of print and online resources for our students,” said Harriet Keleutak, Director General of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq.
“Réseau BIBLIO ATNQ is proud to have been able to lend its expertise in management and administrative support to Nunavik libraries. We have successfully met the challenge of remotely serving libraries north of the 55th parallel, and we were able to do so while respecting cultural and linguistic diversity,” said Richard Dessureault, President of Réseau BIBLIO de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-du-Québec.

This partnership between the school board and Réseau BIBLIO began in 2015 in Aupaluk, and it gradually developed through collaboration with school principals. The school-municipal development project includes the deposit of approximately 1,000 books in Inuktitut, English and French, the implementation of a new document management software as well as the training and ongoing support of staff responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the library.

“Without the involvement of teachers and school personnel, such projects would never get off the ground,” said Ms. Keleutak. “I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary work that was done in Puvirnituq, as well as in Aupaluk, Kuujjuaq, Salluit and at our documentation centre in Montreal, by all the staff who invested their time in these projects and who continue to ensure the daily operation of these libraries,” she added.

Kativik Ilisarniliriniq and Réseau BIBLIO would like to thank the northern village of Puvirnituq. This project would not have been possible without the financial support of New Paths for Education, a program of Indigenous Services Canada, and of the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec.

For an overview of the resources accessible at the library, refer to this sheet.

About us:
Kativik Ilisarniliriniq was created in 1975, under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). Since 1978, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq has been the exclusive provider of academic services to the population of Nunavik. Under the JBNQA, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq is granted the power and jurisdiction to develop and deliver specific educational services and programs that aim to protect, maintain and develop the Inuit language, culture and way of life. The education programs developed by the school board are offered in all schools of the 14 Nunavik communities, in Inuktitut as first language and in French and English as second languages. The school board operates 17 primary and secondary schools as well as 6 adult education centres. For more information, visit: www.kativik.qc.ca

The Réseau BIBLIO de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-du-Québec (ATNQ) offers public libraries in the 70 regions served a multitude of services to help them successfully achieve their library mandates as well as support in all aspects of library management. In addition to deposited books, online services are available 24/7 including more than 5,000 digital books in English and French, a vast choice of digital magazines in 60 languages, access to locally available books via the special request service, and World Book, an encyclopedia for young people. For more information: www.mabiblio.quebec.

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For additional information, please contact:
Jade Duchesneau-Bernier
Communications Coordinator
publicrelations@kativik.qc.ca

Cloé Gingras, Réseau BIBLIO ATNQ,
581-888-3215
cloe.gingras@reseaubiblioatnq.qc.ca

Michel Desfossés, Réseau BIBLIO ATNQ
819-290-8413
michel.desfosses@reseaubiblioatnq.qc.ca