Inuvik has a tradition of library service right from its earliest days as East Three/ Aklavik East in the late 1950's. The first formal library, sponsored by the Home and School Association, operated once a week from a small room beside the stage in Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, with Ellen Binder in charge. (Books from that era stamped "Aklavik East Home and School Association" are on display in ICL.)

When Canadians' thoughts were turning to Canada's 100th birthday in 1967, funding for community Centennial projects was announced. Inuvik, planning ahead, held a plebiscite in 1966, and, although several ideas (an arena among them) were topics of coffee shop discussion, only two proposals made it onto the ballot: a library and a friendship centre. With keen sponsorship by the newly-formed Inuvik Museum and Library Society, chaired by Cynthia Hill, the library won. (The friendship centre would have its day; a few years later Ingamo Hall, located a couple blocks west of the Library on Mackenzie Road, became another major project.)

Construction of the centrally-located library building was completed in time for bees of volunteers to move and catalogue both the materials from the school library, and books arriving from the south as individual Canadians and organizations adopted Inuvik's library as their personal Centennial projects. Book cases were built, and each shelf designated by a small plaque the name of local donors to the library fund. (Those plaques which have survived are mounted on display in ICL.) The official opening was January 15, 1967. Ellen Binder cut the ribbon. Cynthia and Dick Hill presented a centennial symbol to hang over the door. Inuvik proudly noted that we were the first community in the NWT to have our Centennial project up and running. (Another matter of pride seems to have been connection to the utilidor - not necessarily a "given" at the time.)

The library services grew. The 10,000 book target was met and surpassed. The space got tight The liquor warehouse next door became outdated, first with the opening of the Dempster Highway eliminating the need for vast storage for summer-barged supplies, then with the privatization of liquor retailing. The Library Board (as it was known by then) lobbied for years until finally the Town was able to acquire the old warehouse on generous terms from the Territorial government. Proposals for renovations were called in 1995. The old building was miraculously transformed and thirty years after the plebiscite which gave Inuvik Centennial Library its start, the collection now numbering 30,000 items, was moved along the street.

On June 20, 1996, Inuvik held the official opening of the new Inuvik Centennial Library. Citizens formed a line to pass the Centennial Symbol from the old to the new building, where it again hangs above the door. Ellen Binder's grandson cut the ribbon. Cynthia Hill cut the cake. The Dick Hill Northern Collection of this longtime citizen's private library, was accepted as a major donation. Computers were linked to a library in Christchurch, New Zealand. Special children's' centres donated by longtime sponsors the Legion Ladies and Lions Club were inaugurated, and the story continues.

Back to top