Media Room
Media Contact:
Joy Adams Bauer, Communications Officer, (250) 729-2316 or jadamsbauer [at] virl [dot] bc [dot] ca
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Fast Facts about Vancouver Island Regional Library
- Vancouver Island Regional Library is the fourth largest library system in British Columbia.
- Holdings at Vancouver Island Regional Library number almost one million and include books, magazines, CD’s and DVD’s. Card holders can borrow materials from any of our 38 locations.
- In 2012 there were 2.6 million visits to our branches and our customers borrowed 4.6 million items.
- Vancouver Island Regional Library opened its doors in 1936 as the Vancouver Island Union Library. We were the second regional library in North America.
- With 38 branch libraries across the island, Vancouver Island Regional Library serves over 430,000 people on Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast (Bella Coola)
- Vancouver Island Regional Library is governed by a Board of Trustees representing the municipalities and regional districts in our service area.
- The Vancouver Island Regional Library Board lobbies and advocates ensuring that resources are available to fulfill the mission, vision and values of Vancouver Island Regional Library.
Executive Director
Rosemary Bonanno, BA, MLS
The Executive Director reports directly to the Board. As Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Director plays a key role in system-wide strategic planning, provides advice to the library board and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of Vancouver Island Regional Library
Senior Administrative Team
Adrian Maas, Director of Finance, CGA
The Director of Finance plays a key role in system-wide strategic planning and provides advice to the library board. The position is responsible for the overall management and administration of the finance division working in the areas of finance, facilities, information technology and purchasing.
Harold Kamikawaji, Director of Human Resources, BComm, CHRP
The Director of Human Resources plays a key role in system-wide strategic planning and provides advice to the library board. The position is responsible for the overall management and administration of the human resources division, working in the areas of human resources, labour relations and occupational health and safety.
Fiona Anderson, Director of Library Services, BA, MLS
The Director of Library Services plays a key role in system-wide strategic planning and provides advice to the library board. The position is responsible for the overall management and administration of the library services division, working in the areas of library customer service, programming, circulation, statistics, branch collections, acquisitions and cataloguing.
News Releases 2013
May 13 - Features of the new library in Cumberland
May 2 - During the provincial election campaign, let's not forget the importance of public libraries
May 1 - Library on Cortes Island closer to reality
April 24 - Learn a new language from the comfort of your home!
April 4 - Thousands more eAudiobooks available at www.virl.bc.ca
March 5 - Celebrate Teen Tech Week and Check In @ your library!
February 27 - Turning pennies into books
February 19 - Celebrate Freedom to Read Week
February 18 - Computer system upgrade at Vancouver Island Regional Library
February 13 - Officers Elected to Library Board of Trustees
February 12 - Vancouver Island Regional Library winner in national contest!
Februrary 5 - Work begins on new Nanaimo North Branch
January 28 - Work begins on Cowichan Lake Branch
January 24 - New literacy kits for children with visual impairments
January 24 - New book club sets for teens and kids available at your library!
January 9 - Vancouver Island Regional Library to buy building housing Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch
January 7 - Hundreds of digital magazines now available at Vancouver Island Regional Library
January 3 - Quadra Island Branch expanding hours of operation
News Releases 2012
November 30 - Tender awarded for construction of Cowichan Lake Library Branch
November 26 - Tender awarded for construction of Nanimo North Library Branch
October 19 - Official Opening of Gabriola Island Library Branch
September 18 - Results of Request for Proposals (RFP) process for Cortes Island Library Branch
July 5 - Resolution on library funding goes to Union of British Columbia Municipalities
July 3 - Temporary holds pickup location found on Cortes Island
June 13 - Request for Proposals process for new library on Cortes Island
June 12 – The library in your pocket!
May 24 – VIRL receives structural engineer’s report on Cortes Island Library Branch
May 22 – Next steps to provide library service on Cortes Island
May 7 – Fines suspended for materials borrowed by customers of Cortes Island Library Branch
May 5 – Official opening of Quadra Island Library Branch
May 2 – Public information session about plans for Cortes Island Library Branch
April 30 – Cortes Island Library Branch temporarily closed
April 2 – New library for the Village of Cumberland
March 17 – Grand opening of Bella Coola Library Branch
February 27 – Quadra Island Library Branch closes March 10th with new branch opening on March 20th
February 22 – Gabriola Library Branch moves to temporary location
February 1 – Library Board elects officers
January 31- Vancouver Island Regional Library holds open house for Nanaimo North facility
January 31 - Free downloadable music at the library
News Releases 2011
November 2 - Library Board adopts balanced 2012 operating budget
October 19 - Bella Coola temporary closing
September 13 - I love my library - teen video contest
September 9 - Vancouver Island Regional Library celebrates 75 years of service
August 25 - Kobo eReaders at the library
July 26 - New Website launched
June 29 - New user friendly library catalogue is here
April 2 - Quadra Island to get new, larger library
April 2 - Cumberland to get new, larger library
February 15 - Quadra Island Library space negotiation
