Rouyn-Noranda / Montreal/ Puvirnituq (November 19, 2020) – Thanks to two years of combined efforts by the Iguarsivik School and the parents of the Education Committee, the Tunguniq School and Community Library has finally become a reality in Puvirnituq. To highlight this remarkable achievement, the Réseau BIBLIO Abitibi-Témiscamingue Nord-du-Québec (ATNQ) presented its 2019 Special Award to the Tunguniq Library Committee of Puvirnituq.

During a ceremony organised at the Iguarsivik School, the award was presented on behalf of the Réseau BIBLIO ATNQ by Ms. Lucy Qalingo, mayor of Puvirnituq, and representative of the municipality that has been supporting this project since 2018. The members of the Iguarsivik School Library Committee and Ms. Sarah Beaulne, Commissioner of Puvirnituq within Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, received this award with great emotion. “On behalf of the School Board, it is a great honour for me to see that the efforts made locally by the parents, the school team and the municipality of Puvirnituq are recognized and celebrated,” said Ms. Beaulne.

“The development of both school and public libraries in Nunavik is based on a community approach that allows families to become more involved in their children’s schooling by giving them easier access to reading,” said Richard Dessureault, President of the Réseau BIBLIO ATNQ.
The Tunguniq Library is supported by the expertise and support of the BIBLIO ATNQ Network. This partnership makes possible: the use of a management software program that collects the library’s school and community collections; the support and training of library staff; the acquisition of books in French, English and Inuktitut; and access to digital resources (books, magazines, escape games, etc.).

Since its opening, there have been 371 student and adult subscribers representing 20% of the local population and already a few hundred loans have been made since 2019.

The library development project in Nunavik has been receiving financial support from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications for three years now. Four libraries in Nunavik are currently affiliated with the Réseau BIBLIO ATNQ, in Puvirnituq, Kuujjuaq, Salluit and Aupaluk.

About us:
The Réseau BIBLIO Abitibi-Témiscamingue Nord-du-Québec (ATNQ) offers a multitude of services to the public libraries of the 71 locations it serves to carry out their mandate and support in all aspects of library management. In addition to deposited books, online services are available 24/7 with more than 5,000 digital books in French and English, a vast choice of digital magazines in 60 languages, access to locally available books through the special request service (ILL), and World Book, an encyclopedia for young people. For further details, please contact: www.mabiblio.quebec.

Kativik Ilisarniliriniq was created in 1975 under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). Since 1978, it has been the exclusive provider of educational services to the people of Nunavik. Under the JBNQA, the Board is empowered to develop and deliver specific educational programs and services designed to ensure the protection and development of the Inuit language, culture and way of life. Education programs developed by Kativik Ilisarniliriniq are offered in schools in all 14 Nunavik communities, with Inuktitut as the first language and English and French as second languages. The school board has 17 elementary and secondary schools, as well as 6 adult education centres. For more information, visit: www.kativik.qc.ca.

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For all enquiries, please contact:
Richard Dessureault
President – Réseau BIBLIO ATNQ
(819) 629-7809

Jade Duchesneau-Bernier
Communications Coordinator – Kativik Ilisarniliriniq
(514) 482-8220 ext. 309
(514) 797-8220
publicrelations@kativik.qc.ca