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By Loreth Beswetherick Stephanie Sloan has been appointed council representative on the Whistler Public Library Board for a one-year term but the Whistler Museum and Archives society is still hoping for representation from council.

By Loreth Beswetherick Stephanie Sloan has been appointed council representative on the Whistler Public Library Board for a one-year term but the Whistler Museum and Archives society is still hoping for representation from council. Sloan takes over the council appointment to the library board from Kristi Wells. She is joined on the board by Annette DeKraker, Jane Finlayson, Anne Hale, Dagmar Roth and Jennifer Jane Villard who have all been a appointed for a term of two years starting Jan. 1, 2000. The Whistler Museum and Archives Society — which, like the library, is looking to the future and working with the British Columbia Building Corporation on conceptual plans for a new facility — has also asked that a council representative be appointed to their board. Museum and archive society president Darlyne Christian’s request was tabled at council’s Monday, Dec. 20 meeting but it was referred back to staff to find out what the museum board meeting schedule was. Councillor Ken Melamed suggested the same council representative to sit on the library board should sit on the museum one since both groups were looking at the possibility of sharing a new facility. He said this could streamline communication. Sloan said, however, she first needs to find out when the museum board meets before she could step up to the plate. The museum board voted at their Dec. 8 meeting to request a council representative. "It is our understanding that you make appointments to the various community groups requiring representation and the board feels that it is time for the museum to benefit from this input from our municipal council as we are fast approaching a critical period in our development towards a permanent museum building," said Christian in her request. The museum board, like the library, has defined a vision for a new building in conjunction with BCBC which is contracted to the municipality to help with the visioning process for both the library and the museum. The next step is to flesh out their proposal and start looking seriously at funding options. It has always been thought the two groups would share a facility on either Lot 1 or 9 between the Whistler Health Care Centre and the BrewHouse, off Blackcomb Way, but the government corporation has a mandate to brainstorm for other potential options. The board has been told, however, their new building will be centrally located in the village. It will also likely have underground parking. The proposed new facility is about 16 times the size of the old one. Once building plans have been finalized the museum will be fund-raising at the same time as the library. The library has been named the municipality's millennium project and $2.5 million in municipal funds has already been set aside for a new building. The museum board has discussed the possibility of the museum becoming a municipal facility. It has been said it may be the only way for the museum to survive.