The Hay River Centennial Library will again be closed until September 24 because there are no staff available to maintain services, according to the GNWT.
Residents will still be able to access electronic resources with their library card and personal identification number while the building remains closed.
After September 24, reduced staffing capacity may continue to limit public access to the library for a period of time, a spokesperson for the NWT Department of Education, Culture and Employment said. People will, however, still be able to browse and select materials online and arrange to pick them up at the library.
“The GNWT continues to work with the Town of Hay River to restore regular public access to library services as quickly as possible,” the department spokesperson stated in an email.
“The GNWT’s priority is to ensure that Hay River residents continue to have access to quality public library services through a model that is sustainable, community-supported, and responsive to local needs.“
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The Town of Hay River did not respond to Cabin Radio’s request for comment by the time of publication.
The library’s current staffing and governance issues follow a decision by the GNWT to end direct funding of the head librarian position as part of an effort to bring funding for the Hay River library in line with the model used by other public libraries in the territory.
The volunteer library committee stepped down on April 30, closing the library while the town and GNWT continued discussions over its future. The territory later committing to fund the head librarian position until March 31, 2027.
The library ultimately reopened with reduced hours on June 9.
