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  • LISWire: Increases in funding to NWT Public Libraries

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    April 22nd, 2009LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    YELLOWKNIFE (April 20, 2009) – In line with the 16th Assembly’s vision of ‘Northerners Working Together’, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) has increased direct funding to libraries for the 2009-2010 financial year. The Assembly has identified “healthy, educated people” as one of the six goals of this vision.

    This increase in funding will allow smaller libraries to increase their operations from 20 hours per week to 30 hours per week and will also allow libraries to address cost increases resulting from increased utility rates, shipping rates and service use. Circulation has increased by 69% in the last two years.

    “It is important to us that NWT residents have quality library services available to them,” said Minister Jackson Lafferty. “We hope that this increased funding will make additional and improved services available to NWT residents who are on the journey of lifelong learning and literacy.”

    The Department of ECE is responsible for providing free public library services to residents across the Northwest Territories. ECE supports libraries in 15 communities in a number of ways and provides direct services to residents in the remaining communities through web and postal service. In conjunction with close to a $270 million investment in education, this increase in library funding is one of the ways the Government of the Northwest Territories is building the future and expanding programming for children and youth.

    For more information, please contact:

    Shawn McCann
    Manager of Public Affairs
    Education, Culture and Employment
    Government of the Northwest Territories
    Tel: (867) 920-6222
    E-mail: shawn_mccann@gov.nt.ca

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